ROCKLAND — Volunteers hosted Rockland Community Picnic and raised funds to help homeless youth. This past summer John (Mike) Grondin, chairman of the Parks Commission, along with Sandra Schramm, of the Volunteer Garden Group, Julie Lewis and Callie Black of Rockland Heart & Soul and Joe Steinberger, of the Parks Commission, decided to host a completely volunteer-driven community picnic to offer some free fun for local kids and raise some funds for groups continuing to do good work with kids throughout the year.

Nathan Davis, Kyle and Julie Swan, Tom Luttrell and Linda Montalto were all volunteers and families were treated to hot dogs cooked by Councilor Ed Glaser and delicious cookies and brownies baked by members of the Volunteer Garden Group and a number of city hall employees.

The event was graciously sponsored by Eastern Tire, Wasses Hot Dogs and Rotary Pizza. Raffle donations included lobsters from Mark Bemis and Josh Ames of Matinicus and gift sets from Fiore Olive Oils. Numerous local businesses donated prizes for children's games at the event.

John (Mike) Grondin and Sandra Schramm presented the $182 donation to Stephanie Primm, Executive Director of Knox County Homeless Coalition and Joseph Hufnagel, Director of the organization's recently opened youth program, The Landing Place. "We are continually amazed by the generosity of individuals and extremely gratefully for the outpouring of heart-felt support on behalf of the young people in our community. It's inspiring to see people going out of their way on a regular basis to show that they care," said Joseph.

About Knox County Homeless Coalition
Knox County Homeless Coalition, founded in 2014, is the only dedicated homeless organization serving Knox, Waldo and part of Lincoln counties offering case management to an active client base of about 300. They also manage the Hospitality House family shelter—a live-in facility for 23 in Rockport. Their mission is to be the center of excellence in breaking cycles of poverty and homelessness in mid-coast Maine, offering a comprehensive approach to helping vulnerable people build productive and self-sustaining lives by providing intensive wraparound client care as well as shelter when possible. Everything they do is delivered with respect, dignity and genuine caring, delivering on the promise of home, help, and hope.
Since opening their doors in 2014 KCHC has achieved a 90-95% success rate for sustainable independence in clients who remain active in their Aftercare program. Their van, an added service in 2015, helps remove one of the most critical barriers to rural independence and transports clients to jobs, education, child care, health care and other services, an average of 2,000 miles per month. The newest program of KCHC, The Landing Place, is a highly-relational, low-barrier, comprehensive, safe haven for under-served and marginalized teens located on Park St. in downtown Rockland.