LEWISTON – When Jo Jo Cote was asked what she would like to do for her birthday, she didn’t hesitate. She wanted to eat Chinese food with her new friend Eleanor Cusson.

“Tell them what wonderful people they are,” said Cusson of Lewiston as she and Georgie “Jo Jo” Cote and Debbie Boulet, both consumers at the Progress Center in Norway, waited outside the Super Chinese Buffet in Lewiston on Friday afternoon for a ride to Eleanor’s house where the party would continue with a special doll birthday cake she made for the honoree.

The three met through the Progress Center’s community inclusion program, which offers programs that allow adults who experience disabilities to interact in the community in a purposeful way.

“It made perfect sense that nonprofits should collaborate and join forces to meet the needs of those they serve,” said Priscilla Burnette of the Progress Center. “At the meeting I attended with SeniorsPlus I heard stories of people without support as they no longer fit into the Maine Care funding programs. I immediately thought, well, the Progress Center’s mission is to be part of our community so why couldn’t we offer some help.”

For Cusson, who was moving from Farmington to Lewiston and uses a wheelchair, it was not only assistance in the unpacking and other moving chores, but more importantly the start of a friendship between the women.

“They just all clicked because it was a friendship that formed because it was a person in need,” Burnette said.

“They just go out of their way to be understanding and offer friendship,” said Cusson as she watched Jo Jo open her birthday present, an MP3 player, and then throw her head back in laughter as she opened up a musical birthday card. “I enjoy these people so much. They’re so helpful and kind.”

For many years, the Progress Center has provided support to SeniorsPlus through buying meals for local seniors and delivering meals on wheels. But when Burnette learned of the additional need for help with people dependent on outside support for daily living she offered that help. Calls began to pour in from SeniorsPlus to the Progress Center for help with picking up mail, supplies or to care for lawns.

Deb Anthony, the Progress Center executive director, said in a statement recently that, “We believe that not only do we help to fill gaps that underfunded services cannot, but we also build relationships with people through our work. The relationships for both the people we serve and those we assist create what we all once called community, the idea that all of us have responsibilities to each other. The joys and rewards of community are available to all members; this story highlights those who are disabled and elderly and often seem left out of community”

Burnette said the program will only gain strength as time goes on and the word gets out.

“We are the best kept secret in the area,” she said. “It is with community support and care our clients will blossom.”

For Jo Jo, Eleanor and Debbie, it’s simply the start of a great friendship.