ROCKPORT — During the months of September through December 2018, the congregation at the Nativity Lutheran Church participated in the Shaw’s Supermarket promotion to earn free food-storage containers which they then donated to the Knox County Homeless Coalition. 

The congregation collected hundreds of stamps, earning a total of fifteen new Luminarc glass food-storage containers for KCHC families, according to Knox County Homeless Coalition, in a news release.

The containers will be used to provide safe food storage for families supported by the KCHC.

“This was a wonderful donation by our friends and neighbors at the Nativity Lutheran Church” said Jess Harriman, who manages the Hospitality House Family Shelter, in the release.

To find out more about how you can make a difference with those who are homeless in the area, contact the Knox County Homeless Coalition at 207-593-8151 or info@homehelphope.org.

Nativity Lutheran Church welcomes community participation in their current endeavor to collect Monopoly pieces as part of the promotion now running at Shaw’s Supermarket to benefit the AIO Food Pantry in Rockland.

If you are interested in participating, you can either mail pieces to the attention of Karin Pratt at Nativity Lutheran Church, 179 Old County Road, Rockport, ME 04856, or call Karin at 207-594-4665.

About Knox County Homeless Coalition

Knox County Homeless Coalition, founded in 2014, is the only dedicated homeless organization serving Knox, Waldo and part of Lincoln counties offering case management to an active client base of about 300, according to the release. They also manage the Hospitality House family shelter — an extended stay facility in Rockport.

Their mission is to be the center of excellence in breaking cycles of poverty and homelessness in Midcoast Maine, offering a comprehensive approach to helping vulnerable people build productive and self-sustaining lives through intensive wraparound client care as well as shelter when possible. Everything they do is delivered with respect, dignity and genuine caring, delivering on the promise of home, help, and hope.

Since opening their doors in 2014 KCHC has achieved a 90-95 percent success rate for sustainable independence in clients who remain active through the entire program.

The Home Help Hope on Wheels van, an added service in 2015 thanks to a donated van from Darlings Auto, helps remove one of the most critical barriers to rural independence and transports clients to jobs, education, child care, health care and other services, an average of 2,000 miles per month.

The newest program of KCHC, The Landing Place located on Park St. in downtown Rockland, is a highly-relational, low-barrier, comprehensive, safe haven for under-served and marginalized teens.