Newsletter: September, 2025
A Note from Our Executive Director
Dear Supporters and Community Members,
We are filled with gratitude for our community! Shop for Hope, our largest annual fundraiser, was an overwhelming success this year. We sold over 240 tickets to VIP night, the first night of the sale that allows shoppers early access to high quality, new and used clothing and accessories. Overall, we raised $77K, that’s a 20%+ increase over last year! Funds will help to ensure the continuation of critical services for victims of domestic abuse, dating violence and stalking in Midcoast Maine. We send our most sincere thanks to the clothing donors, sponsors, business and community members who assisted and loaned us racks and tables, volunteers, and staff that helped to make Shop for Hope 2025 the best yet!
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is coming in October. We’ll start our slate of activities with a free talk on the federal response to domestic violence and firearms with Margaret Groban. Groban will speak in late September in both Rockland and Boothbay. This topic is particularly timely as voters in Maine will have an opportunity to vote on a newly proposed Red Flag law in November. We’ll also hold a yard sale in early October with clothing and accessories seen at Shop for Hope as well as several new items. And, we’ll see you at the Strand October 17 as we participate in Pecha Kucha, a fun event that brings businesses, artisans, and more together for a fun, community evening! Please see below for more information on each of these events.
As we move into the final year of our three-year Strategic Plan, we are changing databases. You can assist by letting us know of any errors in communications (i.e., address and name errors) you receive from us. We would be grateful for this feedback. Just email or call Joan at (207) 691.5969. Thank you. We sincerely appreciate your help!
Warmly and with gratitude,
Rebekah
Development
Free Speaker Series! The Evolution of the Federal Response to Domestic Violence and Firearms
Please join us from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on September 29 in Rockland or September 30 in Boothbay Harbor for a talk with Margaret Groban, a retired federal prosecutor for the District of Maine and the National Domestic Violence Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Justice, former member of Maine’s Domestic Violence Homicide Review Panel, and current adjunct faculty at the University for Maine School of Law. Groban will also speak on Red Flag or Extreme Risk laws that allow law enforcement, loved ones, and others to petition the court for removal of firearms from individuals posing a risk to themselves or others. The referendum will impact victims of domestic abuse as well as affected others in their efforts to keep dangerous people from possessing firearms, and will be on our Maine November ballot.
Click here to register for this free and important event.
Our Yard Sale is Saturday, October 4
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We will hold a yard sale from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, October 4 in our parking lot at 5 Beech Street, Rockland. You'll find quality new and gently used clothing and accessories from our recent Shop for Hope event and some items not seen before.
Items are by donation only. Cash, check, and credit cards will be accepted. Bring your own bags as possible. No early birds, please. All donations benefit our work with individuals who are affected by domestic abuse.
We look forward to seeing everyone! Do you know of someone who would like to receive our newsletter and find out about events like these? Please forward this link to them.
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Pecha Kucha at the Strand Theatre on October 17
We will be one of the presenters at this wonderful community event in October! Come hear about our agency and the work that we do in this concise, fun format that always brings our community together.
Watch for more info on from the Strand for purchasing tickets.
See you there!
Shop for Hope 2025: Thank you!
On behalf of everyone at New Hope, we send our sincere thanks to our community for supporting Shop for Hope, 2025. We brought in over $77,000.00 to benefit New Hope’s comprehensive services for victims of domestic abuse and concerned others.
We are grateful to everyone as this event truly takes a village: clothing donors, sponsors, volunteers, raffle and VIP bag donors, those who allow us to use their tables and racks and who made and donated hors d’oeuvres and beverages, members of the Rockland City Council and the Flanagan Center, and all of our shoppers.
To volunteer for this event and others, or to become a helpline volunteer, please click here. Thank you! Until next year!
Residential: Success Story
Carla (not her actual name) called the helpline on a Friday morning. She had been living with her boyfriend for two years. During that time, he used extreme violence against her including strangulation and threatening her with a loaded gun. He also abused her pets.
New Hope Midcoast has a unique sheltering model that allows our advocates to connect survivors fleeing domestic abuse with area hotels and motels, while also providing supportive services to assist them with finding a more permanent solution. Carla called us while her boyfriend was at work. She wanted to make a plan to leave him. Fortunately, our advocates were able to connect her with one of our motel partners who also accepts pets. She agreed that staying in our shelter program would allow her time to work with one of our advocates to find more permanent housing and to obtain a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA). Because she had to work all weekend, she planned to move first thing the following Monday.
Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. she called us to say that her boyfriend had left for work. She had packed her car and was ready to go. Carla moved into the motel and filed and obtained a PFA the next day. Together with our housing case manager, she applied for several apartments in the Midcoast. Following six weeks of tireless work, our housing case manager connected Carla to a landlord who accepted pets. One of our housing grants provided a full year of support.
With a full-time job, Carla can save and contribute towards her rent. Our case manager will meet with her regularly to assess her safety and to provide housing resources that Carla may wish to use when our assistance ends.
Our staff contributed to this article on the housing challenges survivors of domestic abuse face. Please take a look. Demand continues to rise as resources shrink.
Legal Advocacy
Safety Net’s Virtual Tech Summit, July 15-17: This event, presented by The National Network to End Domestic Violence, was a great opportunity for our Law Enforcement Advocate to learn about how the latest technology can be used both as a tool for abuse (i.e., surveillance and stalking) and to enhance safety for survivors. Information learned was shared with all advocates as they work on safety planning with high-risk survivors.
Coordinated Community Response Team: Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine and MaineHealth facilitated the most recent of these quarterly meetings. Over forty people learned about recognizing and responding to human trafficking.
Parenting Through Abuse: This support group for survivors who are working with Child Protective Services is underway with our new Domestic Violence-Child Protective Services (DV-CPS) advocate. High demand means that this eight-week group will run continuously.
Education
Mental Healthcare Providers Training, Sept 3 and 4: Advocates conducted a training for social service and mental health providers, and for school employees to engage them in discussions about how to recognize and effectively respond to domestic abuse.
Midcoast Public Health Council Meeting, Sept 9 at Aldemere Farm: Our education staff will attend this important, multi-disciplinary meeting.
TRIAD meetings: New Hope staff work with law enforcement, senior citizens, and community service agencies to reduce criminal victimization of older adults and to advocate for their safety and well-being.
Elder Abuse Roundtable in Augusta, Oct 30: Our staff is part of the Education and Awareness Committee for the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention (MCEAP) and is assisting with preparing for this upcoming roundtable.
Days Ferry Church, Sept 14: Education staff will present a talk during Sunday services.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM): Programming is under way for October and will begin with Margaret Groban’s talk (see above) at the end of September!
Have you seen our film?
We recently showed our film in Rockland and Damariscotta and invite you to view the shorter, five-minute version by clicking here. We are so grateful to collaborate with area agencies to make our work with clients as effective as possible.
Customer Relations Management (CRM)
Part of our Strategic Plan, changing to a new customer Relations Management (CRM) system, Little Green Light, will allow us to better manage our information, will help us keep you informed, and will more effectively create a community where compassion and dedication to serving others is key. We are preparing for the transition and kindly ask that you let us know of any address or other changes needed in our communications with you.
Thank you!
Community of Hope Article:
Domestic Violence and Food Insecurity
Have you seen our most recent article that highlights the intersection between domestic abuse and food insecurity? Click here to read. And watch for our September article on how faith-based beliefs guide decision-making and how faith groups can support survivors.