WHAT THEY DO BEST :
Ryan Sommer and Erika Dube work together to support senior citizens .
Ryan Sommer ’ 94 and Erika Dube ’ 97 Bring the Community Together
FEATURE
During the long winter months of 2020 , when cold and quarantine made the reality of food insecurity much more challenging for many Mainers , Saco City Council reached out to the city ’ s Parks and Recreation Department in an effort to provide much needed resources . Saco ’ s Parks and Recreation Department ( SPR ) includes parks and trees , beaches , and all recreation programs , as well as senior programs . It ’ s a lot to manage without the added challenge of navigating a pandemic , but when they received the city council ' s call , SPR ’ s Director , Ryan Sommer ’ 94 , and Deputy Director , Erika Dube ’ 97 , didn ' t hesitate to shift their focus to supporting Saco ’ s senior citizens .
The result : a plan that offered a hot meal to seniors each Friday for 13 weeks , while supporting local restaurants who were otherwise closed due to the pandemic . Sommer and Dube crafted a collaborative process that included partnering with fellow community organizations and a network of volunteers composed of SPR and city staff , local representatives , and members of the Saco Police Department .
Sommer credits the involvement of his staff for much of the program ’ s success . “ From April to June , we served over 3,000 meals , starting in 30-degree snowy weather and ending in 80 degrees and sun .” SPR staff were involved at every level , from working with restaurants to ensure that there was enough food ; to packaging , delivering , and distributing meals . The program also relied on many generous donations from local businesses and individuals , totaling almost $ 15,000 ! Their strategy was originally slated for six weeks , but more than doubled in length as a direct result of the generosity of the Saco community .
It takes a village . A network of volunteers of SPR and city staff , local representatives , and members of the Saco Police Department come together to make it all happen .
6 Story by Katie Beane · Photos Courtesy of Saco Parks and Recreation