Click on the photos to view the journey from church to community center
Starting in 2018, when the town of Danforth joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, the original committee, known as Danforth Livable Communities (DLC) was driven to accomplish a laundry list of projects based on their Action Plan. Early on, with programming and projects either completed or in the works, we recognized that what was sorely missing was a centralized home for all things Age-Friendly.
Like many other A-F communities, DLC lacked access to a municipal building or the funds to acquire one. It seemed a wish list item more than an actionable goal…..
But in the fall of 2020, an opportunity arose that would propel the Danforth’s Age-Friendly movement. The New England Methodist Conference had recently closed a local church and offered the town the building for $1- the committee saw their chance!
At a special Town Meeting, residents voted unanimously to accept this extraordinary offer, but they stipulated the center must support itself with minimal funding from taxpayers. While the old church had good bones, there were several renovations and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) upgrades required before the facility could be opened to the public.
Funds for renovation, maintenance, and programming would have to be sourced from elsewhere. The elbow grease needed for fundraising and planning was just starting.
A local retired architect kindly donated his time to design the renovations. Myself and the town manager, Ardis Brown, successfully wrote a State of Maine CBDG (Community Development Block Grant) grant to refurbish the kitchen with commercial appliances and for basic exercise equipment, as well as electronics to create a public-access computer area.
Then in 2022, Danforth was invited to become part of the University of Maine’s Center on Aging AmeriCorps program. Two area residents (myself and Mary MacDonald) were chosen for the program and got to work quickly on fundraising, developing programming and doing any odd jobs needed (we even laid flooring!).
Finally, in late 2022, the Danforth Livable Community Center (DLCC), the area’s first-ever community center, was opened to the public! At the same time, Danforth was honored to be named as the second recipient of the AARP Maine Beacon Community award.
Many, many grant applications later and thanks to support from partners such as AARP, University of Maine, Maine Community Foundation, New England GrassRoots Environmental Fund, and the John T. Gorman Foundation, we initiated our programming. It started slowly with a weekly free meal program, a community resource office (which Mary manned) to help residents navigate social assistance programs (e.g., LIHEAP, etc.), Drum Fit classes, game times, a raised bed garden, CPR training and guest speakers, including Aroostook Agency on Aging. The center was now a permanent home to the annual AARP Tax -Aide program, and to an older adults crafting and social group – they call themselves The Coffee Time Gang. We even hosted Downeast Community Partners for LiHeap applications.
It was difficult at first to get some of the older residents to visit the new center- especially those with memories of their former church. Many holidays, weddings and baptisms were celebrated at the old church, and just as many funerals. Slowly and with a few key parishioners supporting the age-friendly effort, folks started to appreciate what the community now had. Though it was no longer a place of worship, it was still a place for sharing, connection, and community.
The original sanctuary continues to host the traditional community Christmas Eve services (all denominations are welcome), and the center can now be rented with catering available too.
As time goes by and the community’s needs change, so does the programming and projects at the DLCC. The center is now an Aroostook Agency on Aging Access Point, allowing residents easier access closer to home, and has been part of the Community Connectors pilot initiative. Thanks to a Community Connections grant, the DLCC is now also a cooling and heating center complete with a generator.
Only time will tell what will be next for the Danforth Livable Community Center- we can’t wait!