About us
The Grateful Undead is a non-profit (501c3) organization based in the Sacopee Valley of southwestern Maine.
In 2011 we began to gather to help one another and our community as we age. When we surveyed our community we found that most people our ages wanted to stay in their own homes, that is, to “age in place.” Our first project was the Transporters, a group of volunteer drivers that bring community members to their medical appointments. We’ve since grown to offer the range of programs you see on this website…and we continue to expand and grow!
We are an AARP Age Friendly Community, and collaborate with many local organizations to offer our programs: Town select boards, the Sacopee Valley Health Center and SMAA (Southern Maine Agency on Aging), among others.
Members of the Grateful Undead meet monthly by zoom to discuss these programs and activities and to plan new ones; we have an extensive email list. We always welcome new members and volunteers!
Grateful Undead Community Connections Pilot Program Progress Report
The Sacopee Valley is a rural community; we have many elders who live alone. An early
focus area has been addressing socialization. The World Health Organization and the
Surgeon General have declared isolation and loneliness to be extremely detrimental to
a person’s health. We have developed a Senior Friendly Events Calendar that is posted
in our local newspaper that has a circulation of 13,500. The calendar consists of social
events, classes and workshops that happen in the area.
The feedback that we have received has been nothing but positive. The Community
Connector spoke to one gentleman who was experiencing depression and felt that he
was at a loss and had no one in his life. He now attends several of the events on the
calendar. He has also offered to give a ride to someone who needed transportation to
be able to attend a Game Day and a weekly coffee. He feels that not only is it getting
him out of the house but is giving him a purpose. He told me that he is starting to feel
more like the person he used to be. It was powerful to see him smile. We are located in
far western Maine; our five towns cover three counties and the agencies that provide
services such as the AAAs are at least an hour away and have a limited presence here.
Older residents have difficulty accessing services, especially if they lack computer skills
and Wi-Fi. The Community Connector is vital to assisting these local people in
accessing resources.
The funding from this grant has allowed us to offer 1:1 benefit checks, connecting
community members with programs that address the social determinants of health. The
Community Connector has met with 47 people to date, helping to connect them with the
MSP program, Food Stamps, the Senior Food Box, Fuel Assistance, transportation and
more. One couple that now have the MSP stated that the money they are saving is
helping them to pay their bills without struggling as hard as they had been to meet basic
needs.
Talk to us
Have any questions?
Want to volunteer, make a donation,
or become a member?
We’d love to talk with you!