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Community Connector Spotlight:
The Community Connector Pilot is part of the Community Connections project, a signature initiative of the Governor's Cabinet on Aging, partnering with the University of Maine Center on Aging, Lifelong Maine's Age-Friendly Communities, and Maine's Area Agencies on Aging.
The goal of the Community Connector Pilots is to expand resource connections and increase the capacity of age-friendly communities to connect residents to the services and programs they need to thrive. Each of the 12 pilot projects built on the strengths and needs in their community so each is a little different.
Each month, the Lifelong Maine news will highlight one of the 14 Community Connectors working in the 12 Community Connector pilot sites. To learn more about all of the pilots, visit Community Connector Pilot Sites. This month, we shine a light on Joe Moreshead, Age-Friendly Saco Community Connector.
Joe Moreshead, Community Connector for Age-Friendly Saco, demonstrates GoPak supplies at an Emergency Preparedness event.
“This was a very powerful program” says Executive Director of Age-Friendly Saco (AFS), Jean Saunders, of 3 emergency preparedness events they organized as part of their Community Connector project. “It's the first contact for a lot of the people [with AFS]. This really made community connections and made people so much more aware of community resources.”
“This was a very powerful program” says Executive Director of Age-Friendly Saco (AFS), Jean Saunders, of 3 emergency preparedness events they organized as part of their Community Connector project. “It's the first contact for a lot of the people [with AFS]. This really made community connections and made people so much more aware of community resources.”
That sense of connection and awareness is exactly what AFS set out to build when it launched nearly a decade ago.
That sense of connection and awareness is exactly what AFS set out to build when it launched nearly a decade ago.
Since its founding in 2016, AFS has worked to make the City of Saco “A Community for a Lifetime.” With a mission focused on promoting active aging and ensuring residents can remain safely and independently in their homes, AFS has established a robust offering of programs from transportation to community lunches, home repair, to tech support, and more! When the Community Connections pilot program came along, it provided a wonderful opportunity to continue to explore and respond to the needs of Saco residents.
Meet Age Friendly Saco’s Community Connector
At the heart of AFS’s Community Connector pilot project is Joe Moreshead, a retired entrepreneur who truly lives by the Rotarian motto, “Service Above Self.” Whether he’s volunteering at the local food pantry, serving with Rotary, or making new connections, Joe's commitment to helping others is evident in everything he does. His role as Community Connector for AFS has been a natural extension of that lifelong dedication to service.
“It keeps me involved. And I like meeting new people and learning new things.”
Joe’s presence brings warmth, energy, and a can-do spirit that helps build the kind of trust and connection the project was designed to foster.
The Community Connector pilot has centered on two key efforts: providing a weekly shuttle to the Saco Food Pantry for New Mainers and expanding a home repair program to include in-home fall risk assessments, in partnership with Saco EMS and Police. But what truly caught everyone by surprise was a third component that has piqued community interest: emergency preparedness.
Collaboration, Community, Readiness
In collaboration with a dynamic network of local partners—including Saco’s Fire Department, Police Department, Communications Office, Parks and Recreation, and the Dyer Library —AFS hosted a trio of emergency preparedness events that drew 83 residents eager to learn and connect.
Each event was packed with practical, potentially life-saving information. The Parks and Rec Director explained how the city’s emergency shelter operates, while the Fire Chief walked participants through what to expect when calling 911 and how to shelter in place effectively. The library generously hosted the events and taught attendees how to map their personal support networks to tap into during an emergency. Meanwhile, the Police Department’s Community Engagement Specialist introduced the “File of Life” program, and Saco’s Communications Director outlined 10 different ways residents can stay informed during emergencies—from text alerts and emails to an official YouTube channel.
One especially popular element? The “Emergency GoPaks”— emergency kits assembled by AFS volunteers and handed out to each participant. These bags were filled with essential items that could prove vital in a crisis.
“We didn’t even know Saco had an emergency shelter!” one attendee shared. “We came home, filled out our emergency card provided by our Fire Department and placed it on our refrigerator. We then added more items in the emergency preparedness backpack provided to us.”
The success of these events went beyond the number of attendees. They sparked stronger partnerships among city departments and built lasting connections with residents who had never previously engaged with AFS. Inspired by the momentum, the planning committee has already reconvened to explore ways to keep the energy going.
See AFS’s template for a post emergency preparedness event survey!
Looking Ahead
Joe and the AFS team aren’t slowing down. Up next is a Repair Café at the Saco Public Library—a new event that invites residents to bring in broken or worn items for a little TLC. Whether it’s jewelry, clothing, bikes, small appliances, electronics, or even houseplants, community volunteers will be on hand to help fix, mend, or troubleshoot.
This kind of programming is exactly what makes Age Friendly Saco “a community for a lifetime”: it meets people where they are, listens deeply to what they need, and invites everyone to be part of the solution.
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