Older and homebound residents are among the most vulnerable in Windham when storms strike the area but through a new initiative, real help for them may be on the way.
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| Age Friendly Windham and Windham Raymond Adult Education have teamed up with Levinsky's at 693 Roosevelt Trail in Windham to locate a donation box at the store for collecting new, store-bought or handmade blankets and socks for Age Friendly Windham and adult and children's hats, mittens, gloves and scarfs for Windham Raymond Adult Education families in need. COURTESY PHOTO |
Bell Watkins says the AFW disaster preparedness program was started earlier this year
“It is only sustainable through donations as a grant was used to create the first 100 bags, but my goal is to distribute 150 more in 2026,” she said. “I have partially met the goal, but am looking for businesses to donate things like hand sanitizers, first aid kits, multi tools and battery-operated radios and lanterns.”
Businesses are welcome to brand donated items so that community members recognize their generosity, Bell-Watkins said.
“I am asking the community to help supplement the bag with a cozy item like lap blankets and warm socks,” she said. “Of course, cash donations are always welcome as well.”
The first AFW disaster bags were distributed at community events like the spring AFW luncheon and the Windham Food Pantry drive-through, but AFW continues to find families to distribute them to by word of mouth.
“Do you have a neighbor or know a family that doesn't have transportation or the means to create a bag for themselves with the items they would need to stay safe at home or evacuate in case of emergency? This is an effort to keep our community prepared and safe in inclement weather or prolonged periods without electricity,” Bell-Watkins said.
This project was coordinated with the Windham Fire and Windham Police Departments and Age Friendly Windham was able to get the Community Connect app added to the town’s safety plan.
“I hope individuals and families take advantage of this excellent program to help communicate with safety response teams for individual and community wide events,” Bell-Watkins said.
In 2019, Maine was designated as an Age Friendly State, joining many cities and communities across the globe who are committed to becoming more inclusive of people of all ages. Maine is part of the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Communities and the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age Friendly Cities and Communities.
Being designated as an Age Friendly state means communities such as Windham are encouraged to plan and implement strategies that best fit the assets and opportunities of their state and community, as well as embrace and assess multiple domains of livability and these disaster bags are part of that.
Age Friendly Windham is a diverse group of dedicated volunteers working to help members in the community to live and age in place and is dedicated to maintaining the independence of our town’s residents and helping them thrive. Its mission is to partner with local and regional organizations and volunteer groups to increase services and programs that make it possible for residents of all ages and abilities to live and thrive in Windham; provide activities geared toward keeping people healthy, active, and engaged in our community; and advise the Windham Town Council about infrastructure and policy that will make it easier and safer for Windham residents to live in our community.
The Age-Friendly Committee was spearheaded by the late Human Services Advisory Committee member, Deb McAfee, when the town enrolled in AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities in January 2019. McAfee, who passed away in May of 2022 following a lengthy battle with cancer, was the driving force behind establishing this committee. The committee formed and completed a public survey in October 2019. It was voted upon and granted by the Windham Town Council in 2020 that Windham would be a part of AARP’s Age-Friendly Community, and Age-Friendly Windham was officially launched in the town.
Donations will be collected through Jan. 31 at Levinsky's.
To learn more about Age Friendly Windham programs and activities, call 207-892-4649 or visit https://agefriendlywindham.org/ <
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