MATE Moments

A Roof Over Their Heads:
How Mission at the Eastward Restores Hope for Maine Families
(Published: 12.9.24)

When a devastating winter storm ripped the roof off her family’s rural Maine home just before Christmas, Diane, her husband, and their daughter found themselves in a desperate situation. Diane recalls, “We tried to apply for FEMA, but because my husband made the house ‘livable’ by pulling down the metal, they wouldn’t do anything. We had buckets lined up throughout the house catching water, but no help was coming.”

Like many low-income to moderately-low income families in rural Maine, Diane’s family fell into a gap—unable to afford major repairs but also ineligible for government assistance. “Where were we going to live? Who was going to put us up in a hotel or pay our rent somewhere else?,” said Diane.

A Roof Of Hope:
How Mission At The Eastward Helped One Man Reclaim His Home
(Published: 12.9.24)

For James, his home in rural Maine had become a source of stress rather than comfort. The roof, worn and leaking, had turned his hallway into a rain-soaked hazard and left him feeling overwhelmed. Replacing it was not only expensive but labor-intensive, and James simply didn’t have the means to take on such a monumental task on his own.

Mission at the Eastward stepped in, assembling a team of volunteers to replace James’ roof. “When you guys peeled those shingles off, I breathed a sigh of relief,” James shared.  “And when the new roof went on, it was like a guardian angel got placed over my house.”

Steps Toward Safety:
How Mission at the Eastward Helped a 72-Year-Old Widow Regain Peace of Mind
(Published: 12.9.24)

For 72-year-old Gloria, her rural Maine home had become a source of worry. Living alone and relying solely on social security, Gloria faced a growing safety hazard: her back staircase, the second exit from her mobile home, was crumbling and unusable. “I couldn’t afford to get the steps repaired,” she shared. “Without that fire escape, I didn’t feel safe.”

In mobile homes, a second exit is not just a convenience—it’s a lifeline. Emergency scenarios like fires, which spread quickly due to the compact design of mobile homes, make it critical to have multiple escape routes. A blocked or unsafe exit can mean the difference between life and death.

Building A Future:
How Mission At The Eastward Helped A Family Stay Together
(Published: 12.9.24)

For Sam and Laura, raising their three young grandchildren was a labor of love born out of necessity. When the children were removed from their mother’s custody, the couple stepped in to provide a stable home. But their aging house in rural Maine, with a roof that leaked and ceilings damaged by black mold, posed a dangerous obstacle.

“The state told us the house had to be up to code for us to keep the kids,” Laura explained. “The water was leaking into the insulation, and the ceilings were rotting and coming down. The mold was terrifying—especially for our middle grandson, who was born premature and has a respiratory condition. If we didn’t fix it, he might have ended up back in the hospital, hooked to a breathing machine.”

A Home To Pass On:
How Mission At The Eastward Transformed One Family’s Future
(Published: 12.9.24)

Living in their home since 1990, Paul and Sarah faced an overwhelming challenge—a leaking roof that hadn’t been replaced since 1958. Decades of wear had left the roof in dire condition, with rot and leaks causing severe damage to the house and dangerous black mold. For Paul and Sarah, repairing the roof was more than just a matter of comfort; it was essential for their home’s survival and their future stability.

“When it rained, it was like a total panic for me,” Sarah shared. “The first night it rained after the new roof, I kept thinking, ‘I need the totes!’ But we didn’t need them anymore. That moment meant the world to me.”

A Fresh Coat of Care:
How Mission at the Eastward Helped a Widow Keep Her Home
(Published: 12.5.24)

When Ruth first noticed the peeling paint on her aging home in rural Maine, she knew she was in trouble. Her insurance company warned her that if the repairs weren’t made, her policy could be canceled, putting her home—and her stability— at risk. A hole in the siding, where squirrels had begun nesting, threatened even more damage.

As a widowed, elderly woman battling the lingering effects of cancer, Ruth was unable to climb ladders or tackle the extensive repairs herself. Her struggles highlight the unique challenges faced by low-income rural residents in Maine, where limited access to resources often leaves homeowners vulnerable to compounding issues.

A Historic Home, a Renewed Hope:
How Mission at the Eastward Makes a Difference
(Published: 12.5.24)

In the quiet countryside of Maine, Edith, a widow in her seventies, faced a daunting challenge. Her home, which is over 200 years old and once served as the stagecoach stop in the rural town in which Edith resides was in dire need of some important repairs. For years, Edith sought help to have the peeling paint on the side of her house repaired and a hole sealed that had become a gateway for squirrels. “I tried for three years to find someone to help me with my house, and I just couldn’t find anyone,” Edith explained.