Birds, Crafts, and Connection: A Fun Visit from Maine CDC

Post submitted by Katie Sell, CADC, Community Health Coordinator; Manager, Safe Harbor-Recovery Home for Women and Children

Making bird feeders at Safe Harbor.

On Friday, May 6, Jessica Schermer, Program Manager for the Maine CDC’s Preventing Drug Overdoses (PDO) program, visited Safe Harbor for a special activity with the kids. Together, they made bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter, and bird seed—a fun and creative way to connect with nature. The kids enjoyed crafting their feeders and then exploring outside to find the perfect spot to hang them. They were excited to watch and wait for their favorite birds to visit!

Safe Harbor Recovery Residence is the only certified recovery residence in Washington County, providing a supportive environment for women and their children. Managed through a collaboration between Healthy Acadia, Downeast Community Partners, Community Caring Collaborative, and AMHC, Safe Harbor offers comprehensive support to women at different stages of recovery. This includes assistance with finding employment and accessing supportive programs.

Located near historic downtown Machias, Safe Harbor benefits from a community that supports recovery efforts. Local institutions such as the University of Maine Machias and Downeast Community Hospital add to the resources available to residents.

Safe Harbor aims to provide a safe, supportive living environment for women in recovery. The collaborating partners shared vision is to create a community where everyone seeking or in recovery, along with their families, has access to the resources they need to thrive. Click here to learn more about Safe Harbor.

Funding from the Preventing Drug Overdoses (PDO) program provided by the Maine CDC has supported an array of prevention services across Washington County since 2023.