Delivering and accepting donations for the Norway Family Center were, from left, Paula Paladino and Barrie Liebler, Rumford Group Homes; Alison Newton, RN; Jeff Rowe, RN; Peggy Holland, RN; Barrett Pottle, RN; Kate Wight, community relations coordinator; Jess Smith, TLP youth coordinator; and Doreen Taylor, RN, CDE.

SMH nurses partner with family center

NORWAY – The theme for Nurses Week this year was “Nurses, Making a Difference Every Day.” One of the ways nurses at Stephens Memorial Hospital celebrated Nurses Week May 4 to 10 was by making a donation of goods they had collected from hospital employees to the Norway Family Center, formerly known as the Galilee House.

Staff nurses delivered the donation on May 8 and were thanked by Paula Paladino of Rumford Group Homes, Barrie Liebler, homeless outreach coordinator, and Jess Smith, transitional living program youth worker.

The Norway Family Center is a shelter specifically for women and children in crisis, and is the only one of its kind in Oxford County. The house has the ability to hold three or four families at one time.

The staff at the center has written many grants to get assistance to renovate and repair the home on Deering Street. A house manager will live on site to help those coming to the shelter and takes referrals 24/7; Barrie Liebler, homeless outreach coordinator, works with families to get them on the track to their own home again. They anticipate the average stay to be six weeks.

The goal of the shelter is to help families get back on their feet by helping them obtain the resources and skills to find a job and a place to live while helping them to obtain their Section 8 status and qualify for help.

Rumford Group Homes Inc. is also partnering with volunteers in the Oxford Hills area to offer parenting and cooking classes and has volunteers that want to do a “dinner and a movie” night for children staying at the shelter.

Paladino said they hope to open the home in June and said that “partnering with the community has been absolutely huge.” More volunteers are always needed. Those interested in volunteering or making a referral can call 369-9439 or 357-5579.

The Stephens Memorial Hospital Community Outreach Council, comprised of staff nurses and other hospital employees, decided to give back to the community during the week that celebrates nurses.

Staff organized two collection days in April, with their main goal to stock the play room for children as well as gathering things that families might be able to take with them to set up housekeeping after leaving the shelter.

The collection netted new and gently used donations of bed linens, sheets, blankets, comforters, towels, face cloths, toiletries, books for adults and children, children’s DVDs, puzzles, toys, new stuffed animals, games, CDs and pajamas.

Jeff Rowe, RN, Community Outreach Council member and spokesman, said, “As a nurse, I was excited to participate in an event that exemplifies the hospital and the council’s mission to support and promote health in the Western Maine community. We are appreciative of all the employees from all of our departments who took the initiative to donate items.”

Other activities commemorating Nurses Week for hospital staff as well as Market Square Health Care Center and the Western Maine Health Practices staff included bowling, a sub sandwich day, drawings for basket giveaways and an ice cream day.