FARMINGTON — The Mission at the Eastward volunteer teams have begun their work in Franklin County and SugarWood Gallery will host an appreciation reception for them and their local volunteer support groups from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at 248 Broadway. The public is invited to meet the volunteers and to bring a potluck hors d’oeuvre to share. The visiting team is from Westford, Mass.

Mission at the Eastward is a mission of the Synod of the Northeast, a Presbyterian organization, and is comprised of eight small, rural churches located in Wales, Leeds, North Turner, Hartford, Starks, Fairbanks, New Portland and North New Portland. This group of churches was formed by Rev. Bill Burger in the early ’50s and for the last 35 years was led by Rev. Scott Planting.

The North Parish Housing Ministry is a ministry of the Mission at the Eastward, and is an area of coverage served by the Fairbanks, New Portland and North New Portland churches. It has been in existence for about 35 years.

Volunteer Mission teams from all over the northeast come to Western Maine during the months of June, July and August to share their talents and caring with area homeowners, who without assistance with labor and/or materials, would be unable to make needed repairs and maintenance to their homes. Wherever possible, they ask homeowners and families to participate in the work and its cost. At times the mission can help with materials through grants and donations. The primary source of funding is from donations from the volunteers who come to do the work. This year, NPHM will be working with 14 churches ‘from away’ that are sending teams of volunteers over the course of the next nine weeks.

Ed Jesteadt has assumed the leadership role of coordinator formerly held by Rev. Scott Planting. Ed’s first exposure to coming to Maine as a member of a “Church from Away” was in 1987 when he came up with the Flemington Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. He and his wife came for 11 consecutive years, always bringing one or more of their five children with them. In the mid-90s, when he was contemplating retirement, Ed told Scott Planting that when he retired he would come to Maine and help run the housing program.

NPHM has two people who do all of the preparatory work for the almost 80 requests for housing repairs received this year: Steve Brennan for the greater Farmington area, and Ken White for the New Portland area.

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