Business + Age-Friendly = Community

The immense value that comes from creating effective and strong partnerships is one of the first lessons a new Age-Friendly/Lifelong Community committee learns. 

Whether it be with local municipal departments – think Fire/Rescue or Public Works – or local civic organizations – think the historical society or library - committees quickly learn that joining with others results in much greater success for everyone.

This lesson may also be applied to local businesses, including the so-called “big box” stores. Seemingly distant and unapproachable, leaders in many different communities have learned that, though large, these businesses also want to be part of local community life. Being a good neighbor is good for business, they say. We have spoken with leaders throughout the state who have told us of sustained corporate generosity from the likes of Home Depot – we cannot calculate the number of sand buckets that company has donated to the many communities that sponsor sand bucket programs through the years. Hammond Lumber has contributed to the construction of many different projects. Recently, they helped Sanford begin their sand bucket program. In Caribou, the S.W. Collins Lumber Co.  supports their sand buckets.

Dick’s Sporting Goods was so generous when the Living Well in North Yarmouth committee went there to use a grant it won to buy cornhole games to donate to their new community center. Upon learning the story, the local manager offered a very generous discount which allowed the committee to buy more games.

Local banks often have grant programs that are easy to access and can support different types of programs. In Saco, several projects have been funded in this way. Also, in Saco, Sena, a company that makes helmets that enable volunteers to communicate with each other while giving bike rides, donated 4 helmets for their Saco Cycles program.