Rebecca Hatfield's first day as president and CEO of Avesta Housing in Maine also happened to be her daughter's first day of kindergarten. Hatfield woke up extra early so she'd have time to wait at the bus stop with her daughter, whose name and teacher were written on a tag hanging over the dress that her daughter had picked out for her first day. 

"She wanted to be perfect, and I wanted to be perfect," Hatfield recalls. 

Rebecca Hatfield's first day as president and CEO of Avesta Housing in Maine also happened to be her daughter's first day of kindergarten. Hatfield woke up extra early so she'd have time to wait at the bus stop with her daughter, whose name and teacher were written on a tag hanging over the dress that her daughter had picked out for her first day. 

"She wanted to be perfect, and I wanted to be perfect," Hatfield recalls. 

Rebecca Hatfield's first day as president and CEO of Avesta Housing in Maine also happened to be her daughter's first day of kindergarten. Hatfield woke up extra early so she'd have time to wait at the bus stop with her daughter, whose name and teacher were written on a tag hanging over the dress that her daughter had picked out for her first day. 

"She wanted to be perfect, and I wanted to be perfect," Hatfield recalls. 

At this time of year, as individuals across the country contemplate the things they're grateful for, many NeighborWorks network organization do what they do year round: They help residents get what they need. That includes providing access to food. Some organizations help by setting up food pantries. Others connect residents to pantries at partnering organization. 

Thousands of turkeys

At this time of year, as individuals across the country contemplate the things they're grateful for, many NeighborWorks network organization do what they do year round: They help residents get what they need. That includes providing access to food. Some organizations help by setting up food pantries. Others connect residents to pantries at partnering organization. 

Thousands of turkeys

Coley Stetler and her sister, Megan Snow, had talked for years about opening a learning center. When Stetler moved back to Maine to be closer to family, they enrolled in the Child Care Learning Lab through Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI).

When a crisis strikes, NeighborWorks network organizations have tools to help. During the pandemic, one of the most visible tools was financial counseling, reports Michael Rayder, associate director of development with Maine's Avesta Housing. Individuals in Avesta's apartment rental homes lost jobs, hours and wages. "They needed to re-evaluate how they managed their budgets," Rayder says. "Financial capability was the way for us to provide services for people who were suddenly in crisis mode."

In Western Maine, Marjorie Millett is often face-to-face with clients. But not this year. When the pandemic forced many housing counselors and financial coaches like Millett to switch to Zoom, she and her organization faced the daunting challenge to continue providing their services in an online-only format.