Supporter Spotlight: chickadeeds

Chickadeeds, a Maine-based organization, designs family-friendly volunteer events in support of community partners. ILAP was honored to team up with Chickadeeds for two events aimed at engaging young people in supporting Maine’s immigrant communities through welcoming and advocacy, hosted by the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine.

The first event began with ILAP’s Catherine Lindgren talking about the journeys of some asylum seeking families. The 36 volunteers then created coloring kits and multilingual welcome cards for ILAP’s offices. Abbott (age 12) said, “I hope that when people open their cards and use the Maine coloring books, they feel how happy we are that they are here.”

“It was really special for me to be able to bring my 10 year old to an event where she could learn about asylum seekers coming to Maine in a way that was not only age appropriate, but engaging,” reflected Lindsay Hocking-Hauser. “She said she will never forget the experience.”

The second event, as Chickadeeds co-founder Jennie Coyne explains, “allowed teen volunteers and their families to step into ILAP’s advocacy work, learning about how policy decisions affecting asylum seekers are made in our society and how we can use our voices to support positive change.” Together, program participants wrote and mailed 30 letters to Congresswoman Pingree in support of letting asylum seekers work sooner.

To date, Chickadeeds has engaged over 1,500 volunteers and donated more than 3,000 hours in support of 18 community nonprofits. ILAP is grateful for Chickadeeds’ partnership and the incredible ways they mobilize volunteers of all ages to support Maine’s community! Learn more and check out upcoming events at chickadeeds.org.

Special thanks to Katie Fischer Designs who generously designed and donated supplies for both events!