Boothbay Region Community Resource Council (BRCRC) Set For Success is a model back to school event that is gaining attention in Maine. Augusta Elks Lodge learned about the event and created a back to school event in August 2017 that met with modest success; but lodge members knew they had to up their game for 2018.

Sue Burge, BRCRC board member and coordinator of Set For Success, recently met with Elks member, Lina Michaud, who is one incredible mover and shaker when it comes to organizing events. After a productive meeting that included brainstorming, mutual support and encouragement, the Augusta Elks will present their second Set For Success on Aug. 25 for Augusta public school students.

Augusta Elks Lodge has encouraged the Augusta business community to partner with them and local businesses have responded with numerous offers of support. Notably, the Marketplace in Augusta will be cheering on the back to school event by inviting shoppers to leave donations in bins throughout the marketplace.

A future goal of Lina and her husband, to encourage all 22 Elks clubs throughout the state of Maine to create a Set For Success in each of the communities they represent.

Augusta is not the only locality to embrace the Set For Success model. On Sunday, Aug. 19, an inaugural Set For Success event will debut in Bath at the Bath Middle School. Jamie Dorr, Midcoast Coalition Alliance, (MCA) founder, has been at the helm of development after she and two members of United Way Midcoast Maine met with Burge last winter to learn about the planning and scope of presenting a back to school event to support all students and their teachers.

The Bath Set For Success event will be for all RSU1 school district students. Their goal, like all Set For Success events, is to ensure no student slips through the cracks and that all students return to school on a level playing field. In addition to school supplies, resources for parents will also be on hand.

Bath Chief of Police Mike Field, a Set For Success volunteer, has invited over 20 local organizations to participate in the event and to form a “Bath Information Highway.” Along with every teacher-requested school supply, community groups can share important information and resources so that families have all the tools they need for a successful school year.

Boothbay’s Set For Success

The Boothbay Region’s Set For Success will take place Aug. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Boothbay Region YMCA Field House. School supplies are pouring in due to the significant support from 12 community churches, local businesses, good neighbors from across the peninsula, and Big Al.

The hair salon will be in full swing and several more licensed hair stylists are required to meet the anticipated demand for this critical service. Please call Annette from Shear Artistry Family Hair Salon at 633-3606 if you can volunteer for an hour to cut hair.

Hannaford will also be on hand to offer healthy snacks and beverages. In addition, the Boothbay region “Information Highway” will include over 30 community businesses, nonprofits, medical providers, and even a scientist from Bigelow Labs. Importantly, representatives from AOS 98 schools will be distributing Back To School shopping lists so that students can secure the supplies they and their teachers require in order to be Set For Success for the 2018-19 school year.

This is a free event and is open to everyone in the AOS 98 community.

For information on starting a Set For Success event in your community, contact BRCRC Set For Success Coordinator Sue Burge: vanmanbill@roadrunner.com.