School nutrition programs across Maine will soon sustainably incorporate local foods into their school meals, thanks to a new Farm & Sea to School Institute hosted by Healthy Communities of the Capital Area. HCCA, the fiscal home of Maine Farm to School,...

January can feel like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, the busyness, anticipation and excitement of the holiday season has now faded into a possible return to some normalcy that may be somehow tainted with a hint of disappointment or perhaps...

Creating Communities where Youth Thrive Gardiner Thrives includes the communities of Gardiner, Pittston, Randolph, & West Gardiner Funded by a Drug Free Communities grant, the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The month of May gives people and organizations an opportunity to shine a light on awareness around mental health and the added impact of stigma that surrounds mental health issues. This article focuses on resources available to...

Winter can be a wonderful time of year, but it can also leave you wondering why you live in a region where it can be so cold and snowy. If you are or you have found yourself becoming, a person who likes winter less and less, do not despair. There are so many things...

Soup has to be the most versatile of all the mealtime menu ideas. Soup is a fantastic way to use up leftover veggies, they are filling, full of fiber, nutrients and will warm you through and through. There seems to be a million ways to make it and you’ll find a few of...

What better way to spend a cool fall day than cooking up some seasonal delights? Hearty squash varieties and root vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned) are flavorful all on their own or can serve as a backdrop for sweet, savory or spicy stocks and sauces. Winter squash...

Fall Leaves Finger Painting This activity is great for pre-k and elementary age children. You will need a piece of brown construction paper (or white paper, brown paint/ markers/crayons), scissors, a glue stick and red, green, orange and yellow non-toxic finger...

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. This is a time that the nation takes a look at alcohol use rates, and how we can all help underage drinking rates to continue to lower. Alcohol is the most used substance by American youth. In Kennebec County, 35% of youth...

These past weeks have been stressful for all of us, and quitting tobacco might seem impossible in such a challenging time. However, we know that compromising your lungs can put you at greater risk for COVID-19 – and we know it is possible to quit if you are motivated...

We know from partnering with local youth that times of "boredom" are when they're more likely to vape or use other substances. Since our young community members are being kept home during the COVID-19 crisis, we're stepping up our outreach by holding an Instagram...

What is Farm to School? Farm to School is a movement that aims to build connections between students, school nutrition programs, and agriculture. Farm to school initiatives include getting local produce into school cafeterias, classrooms (K-12) and child care centers...