By Molly Lovell
Staff Writer


After 10 years of operation, Project G.R.A.C.E. founder Karen Packhem calls its growth “phenomenal,” but knows there are more people in Scarborough, Gorham, Westbrook, Portland, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland who could benefit from their help.
A non-profit organization, Project G.R.A.C.E. (Granting Resources and Assistance through Community Effort) works to provide basic needs to struggling families and individuals.
Project G.R.A.C.E. receives referrals from social workers, guidance counselors, nurses, general assistance offices and neighbors and works with 60 social service agencies to provide help.
The organization has two paid positions, but has remained successful by a core group of 25 volunteers along with others who donate time and money. Interim Executive Director Mary Rollo said last year volunteers logged 3,000 hours.
The organization has helped 1,200 families since they started. Last year they aided 220 families and since July have helped 214, so they expect to exceed last year’s record, Rollo said.
Packhem said some people need things as simple as mousetraps. Others need help with paying rent, utilities, oil, clothing or food. Many of the families they help have children in school but recently the organization contacted the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to help area seniors.
Treasurer Jane VanDan said up to this point this year, 71 percent of the families they have helped are Scarborough residents.
Packhem said when someone calls Project G.R.A.C.E., volunteers assess their situation to find out how they can best help. The most common reason people need help is because they were out of work due to illness.
There are some things Project G.R.A.C.E. cannot help families with including, car payments and providing a full house of furniture.
Longtime volunteer Barbara Martin said 99 percent of the time volunteers make decisions about aid immediately.
Packhem said they don’t generally help the same family several times.
“We don’t want to be in the position of enabling them,” she said.
Packhem said they also offer eyeglasses and reconditioned hearing aids to recipients. She said often, families on welfare are only allowed one pair of glasses a year, which Packhem said isn’t realistic when taking accidents into consideration.
Aid recipients don’t need to reach a certain yearly income as is the case with general assistance offices. Packhem said with general assistance the average family can’t make more than $22,000 or they won’t receive help, a number she called “ridiculously low.”
New volunteer Maura Canny-Carbin said it was “scary” to learn how many families in the community need help, especially those with children in school, as she has two daughters who attend Scarborough schools.
Packhem said donations come from local businesses, but most comes from individuals in the community.
“When someone writes a check the vast majority goes to the recipient,” she said, adding their office is donated and St. Maximilian Kolbe in Scarborough covers overhead expenses.
Several civic groups and churches also raise funds for the organization, she said. Local business owner Eddie Woodin donated $5,000 to a heating assistance fund, challenging Project G.R.A.C.E. to raise $25,000 more. While temperatures are getting warmer, Packhem said it’s important to raise funds for heating assistance because come fall, people wouldn’t have been able to catch up from the prior winter.
In total, Packhem said the organization paid out, $155,000 assistance last year, they have currently paid $137,000 in assistance so far this year.
She said the organization does not struggle to raise funds and attributed high community response to the fact that donations go to neighbors.
Rollo used the word “karma” to describe their success.
“If there’s a need, the money will come. The more good work we do, it spreads,” she said, adding, “The care that’s taken with each recipient allows us to serve more.”
Packhem noted that economic stimulus checks can be donated to Project G.R.A.C.E.
She also encourages those who need aid, or know someone who needs it, to contact them. Packhem said sometimes when people are reluctant to ask for help, a friend or neighbor will contact Project G.R.A.C.E. and anonymously ask the organization to help that person.
Packhem stressed all volunteers are trained to keep recipients anonymous. She said each volunteer signs a confidentiality agreement and to further protect families, each is given a code name to refer by.
“We all come to the table with different talents and different gifts,” Rollo said, adding they are always looking to broaden their core group of volunteers.
To volunteer, donate to Project G.R.A.C.E., or to receive assistance, call 883-5111 or visit www.projectgracemaine.org.