Age-Friendly Millinocket
Finds Success in Community
Jane Danforth

Some of the work of Age-Friendly Millinocket happens quietly, one household at a time. Other projects result in large, public-facing collaborations such as the annual Katahdin Snowdown family recreation event. Either way, most initiatives involve volunteers and town employees, and everyone is eager to get things done.

The work has been ambitious. In the past year, committee members oversaw a sand bucket project, a community garden, a 5K run/walk, a Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market and an Earth Day clean up.  Community outreach grew through increased collaboration with the Millinocket Fire Department. They distributed File of Life cards provided by AARP and the University of Maine Center on Aging. Thanks to a Community Connections grant, they have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and falls prevention equipment available to install for residents in need.

Not every project was a complete success. A volunteer driver program folded without robust volunteer support.  Jane Danforth, Chair of Age-Friendly Millinocket, says, “We have learned that the need is greater than the resources available.”

One way the Age-Friendly group has found success despite limited resources has been through community partnerships. In the case of the Millinocket Memorial Library, the partnership has helped revitalize a community institution. 

Not long ago the library was nearly ready to close, but a shared vision for grass-roots community support resulted in vital new programming. The Help Desk, set up to provide resource navigation for the greater Katahdin Region, is so well-used it has a dedicated phone line. An after-school Teen Space funded by an AARP Challenge Grant invites local youth to gather, do homework, play games and do craft projects in a safe and supportive environment. The library also hosts many community functions both educational and social for all ages including Age-Friendly meetings in person and by Zoom.  

Age-Friendly Millinocket strives to “help older residents thrive while creating an environment for our youth and young adults to experience a sense of community and want to grow old here.”   Danforth adds, “Our future will be shaped by the capacity of the committee to take on this important work.”