Our History
FOUNDING
Portrait of Carl H. Geores, ca. 1951
Photo courtesy of: Presbyterian Historical Society
Mission at the Eastward (MATE) was originally organized in 1954 by the National Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church to support the ministry of newly organized Presbyterian congregations serving small, rural communities in Maine.
The two main names associated with MATE and its beginning are Rev. Bill Burger and Rev. Carl Geores. The main purpose at that time was to support these churches financially and form a support network for the clergy serving these churches through the Synod of the Northeast (Presbyterian Church).
Both congregations and pastors depended upon one another. Christian witness took two forms: organizing congregations in underserved communities and providing social outreach.
Rev. Burger at the Richard Bell Chapel to the base of Sugarloaf Ski Mountain in Carrabassett Valley
-Photograph by Carl Karsch, ca. 1960
CAMP AT THE EASTWARD
In 1960, out of the parish ministry of 10 churches grew a summer camp for children, called Camp at the Eastward (CATE), providing the only “church” some kids have ever experienced. MATE was able to operate CATE for close to 60 years. Sadly, in 2021 the painful decision was made to discontinue CATE programing due to declining enrollment and fiscal infeasibility.
Rev. Scott Planting poses for a picture with campers.
-Photo courtesy of:
Camp at the Eastward Crew Facebook Page
The former Camp at the Eastward sign.
-Photo courtesy of:
Camp at the Eastward Crew Facebook Page
Youth engaged in a group activity at CATE.
-Photo courtesy of:
Camp at the Eastward Crew Facebook Page
After an intensive process of focus groups and discernment, the Presbytery of Northern New England, who leased the land the camp was on to MATE, voted in September of 2021 that the land where CATE was located be returned to the First Peoples of Maine. A celebration and service of thanksgiving for CATE’s faithful ministry was held in late fall 2021. There is also a new initiative, Maine Outdoor Ministry, which provides outdoor faith experiences for community youth. MATE also supports GLOW, the youth ministry of the Presbytery of Northern New England. MATE continues to be committed to having an impact on the lives of youth through MATE Youth Connection (MYC), which incorporates young-adults into our home repair program that provides a life-changing service experience to not only the adolescents involved, but also the homeowners they aid and form meaningful relationships with.
MATE HOUSING REPAIR
Homeowners and volunteers working side-by-side to construct a new family home during 2023.
In 1979, MATE formed the North Parish Housing Ministry (NPHM) with the purpose of meeting the basic human need for shelter by providing volunteer home repairs to those experiencing housing insecurity that were either unable to afford or to conduct the needed repairs on their own due to economic hardships and/or physical limitations.
The NPHM still exists today, 45 years after its formation, as the MATE Housing Repair (MHR). Each summer, volunteer work teams visit MATE, bringing 300-400 passionate people from all over the country, primarily from along the eastern seaboard, that work alongside homeowners to build safer, warmer, and healthier homes for our neighbors living in Central Western Maine.
SOUTH AFRICAN PARTNERSHIP
In 2000, MATE’s programming become international in scope with the creation of the South African Partnership (SAP) with a relationship established with the Amathole Presbytery in South Africa in the Tyhume valley.
Members of South African Partnership and MATE meet in the Tyhume Valley.
The focus of this project was the implementation of home gardens and the education to implement these throughout the community to realize self-sustainability for impoverished communities.
SAP was closed by MATE in 2019, but now exists under the Presbytery of Northern New England (PCUSA). In December of 2020, the last of the SAP funds were given to the Jikani Mission in South Africa to support their good work.
On a tour of one of the gardening programs part of the Amathole Presbytery partnership.
MATE BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT 501(c)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Under the leadership of former MATE Executive Director and Pastor of Fairbanks Union Church, the Reverend Thea Kornelius, MATE became a stand-alone 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2020, officially separating from the Presbyterian Church of which it had been directly apart of for more than 60 years. Under Thea’s direction, the leadership moved from a council style of local leaders, to a Board of Directors. Upon becoming a recognized nonprofit organization, the new Board went to work creating dynamic strategic fundraising and communication plans, while seeking to build stronger partnerships with homeowners, volunteers, donors, grantors, and community collaborators.
Although MATE now operates as a separate, secular nonprofit entity, our roots as a faith-based organization still run-deep. We are incredibly thankful for our continued partnership with Fairbanks Union Church, of whom we share an office space with, and for all of the other long-lasting relationships we have with churches throughout the East Coast who continue to provide monetary support and send workgroups to MATE on service trips to help us carry-out our mission.
The MATE sign hanging alongside the Fairbanks Union Church sign in
Farmington, Maine.
MATE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
Seeing the growing problem of homelessness and housing insecurity in Central Western Maine, including the lack of affordable housing, the Board began to explore transitional housing solutions for those experiencing situational homelessness. In late 2020 and into 2021, MATE, in partnership with Fairbanks Union Church, began work renovating the McCleary House to serve as transitional housing for those in need of temporary housing.
Street view of the McCleary House.
Community outreach and generous donors and grantors provided the funding for the McCleary House renovation. Thanks to the dedicated work of MATE staff and volunteers, Phase I of the renovation was completed and the first guests of the program were welcomed in December 2022. Phase II of the renovation began in the summer of 2023, continued throughout the winter, and is concluding in the fall of 2024.
Upon the full completion of the renovation, the McCleary House will be used to provide transitional housing to community members experiencing situational homelessness, supplying them with free temporary housing during the colder winter months (October-March), allowing for the opportunity for these neighbors of ours to get back on their feet, procure longer-term housing, and avoid falling into the devastating cycle of chronic homelessness.
During the warmer months (April-September), the McCleary House will be used for special support volunteers and employee housing to enable the expansion of our housing repair program to help more homeowners battling housing insecurity receive the aid they need.
MATE TODAY
MATE, in the present day, is focused on three major goals that carry out our current mission to “love our neighbors through volunteer home repairs and transitional housing to foster lives of hope, security, and dignity in Central Western Maine”. These three goals are:
1
Provide home repairs by engaging volunteer work teams and homeowners throughout Central Western Maine:
to aid a growing number of homeowners each year as the demand for our home repair service continues to rise
2
Provide financial and organizational sustainability:
to ensure that MATE can continue to change lives for decades to come
3
Provide transitional housing for the situationally homeless in
Central Western Maine:
to give our neighbors the opportunity to bridge the gap between temporary homelessness and longterm housing