Events - Apr 1 21

The American Lung Association’s 2021 Trek Across Maine has been reimagined into a virtual Cycle Your Way format now through June 30th! Cycling is a great way to improve both your physical and mental health, while giving an extra boost to your immune system. We encourage you to participate in the virtual event as this allows you to get outside while still practicing social distancing!

Money raised will support public health efforts related to lung disease, including COVID-19 research. Over the next three years, the American Lung Association has pledged $25 million to:

• Provide free lung health education and masks to those in need.
• Protect public health by advocating for COVID and flu vaccines in underserved communities of color.
• Prevent future outbreaks by investing in respiratory virus research.

What: If you choose to participate in the cycling portion of the virtual event, complete 60, 120 or 180 miles on an indoor or outdoor bike (or mix of both) at your own pace and in segments if preferred. All virtual participants that raise the minimum $250 by June 30th will receive an accomplishment medal and event t-shirt. You can earn incentives the more you raise!

When: Now through June 30^th, 2021.

Where: Anywhere you’d like, just make sure to always practice social distancing. Sample routes throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts will be provided as well.

How: Visit the event website (TrekAcrossMaine.org) and register as a virtual participant for $25. You will receive everything you need to successfully complete the virtual event from there!

Extras: Join our  Trek Across Maine Group on Strava. You can connect your tracking devices to the Strava app so others can see your progress. We also encourage you to join our Trek Across Maine group to stay in touch with other participants and post photos of your ride/screenshots of your progress.

Buy a ticket and you could win the People Plus April raffle of a set of kayaks. This gorgeous pair of handmade kayaks was gently used and generously donated by Margo and David Knight. Using the “strip building” technique, the Knights hand-crafted these boats by gluing together each individual piece of wood. This painstaking process ensures a beautiful and watertight construction. This package also includes gently used and lovingly cared for handmade storage bags, paddles, PFDs, boat pumps, paddle float bags, and a complete Thule car roof rack system (convertible for either boats or skis)! Total package value is over $5,000.

Raffle tickets are only $20 each and support homebound elders with groceries, prescription deliveries and more.
People Plus, the Brunswick area senior community center, relies on fundraising events for a large part of their budget. With their annual Music in April gala and auction cancelled last year from the pandemic, funds are needed to fill the gap from the loss of proceeds from the event which normally brings in over $60,000. You can help with your purchase of a $20 ticket (or two!).

The raffle is open to the public. To purchase tickets, please go to www.peopleplusmaine.org. Click on the Give Now button or the Music in April auction link (this raffle is part of our 2021 online Music in April event). Or stop by the People Plus Center at 35 Union Street (mask required, please), M-F from 9 am – 1 pm, or give us a call at 729-0757. The drawing will be live on the People Plus Maine Facebook page, Friday, April 30th.

The 19th annual People Plus Music in April online auction fundraiser OPENS Thursday, April 1 at 6:00 pm! The online silent auction features over 150 items in total, launches on April 1 and will close on April 30 at 10:00 pm. Visit www.peopleplusmaine.org for the auction link!

The auction will feature a variety of items including golf packages, local gift certificates, jewelry, private dinners, an outdoor gas grill, toys, clothing, paintings, hand-made items and much more – there is something for everyone – in every price range! Visit www.peopleplusmaine.org, and click on the link for the auction to view the catalog of amazing items. New items will be added every Thursday afternoon so check back often and place your bids (you’ll be notified if someone outbids you so you can bid again!).

Music in April is THE signature fundraiser for People Plus. It enables us to serve over 1400 People Plus members who represent an ever-increasing population of retirees and elders on the Mid Coast. This non-profit could NOT do it without the income from Music in April – which has become a signature event in our community. The Center has raised over $500,000 from the event over the last 18 years. This year has demonstrated exactly how vital People Plus is to the lives of the older adult populations. In addition to hundreds of classes, clubs and meals held safely at the Center, we made over two thousand deliveries of groceries, face masks, food pantry boxes, meals and prescriptions – and provided 26,000 miles of transportation – keeping seniors safe!

People Plus serves the greater Brunswick community by offering a variety of activities to support engaged, healthy and independent lives for older adults, as well as hosting the Teen Center where young people can meet safely to explore creative outlets, eat a healthy meal, and develop into well-rounded adults. People Plus also provides outreach and transportation services, and offers many volunteer opportunities.

People Plus wishes to thank Lead Sponsors Rousseau Management, Bangor Savings Bank and Mid Coast-Parkview Health.