Lace up your skates for a FREE fun-filled day on the ice! Join us for Ice Skate for Sweetser on January 31st from 1 to 4PM at the Waterhouse Center on Main Street in Kennebunk. ❄️⛸️

Whether you skate, snack, or cheer on others, your participation makes a meaningful difference for …families in need. Every glide helps make a difference and donations are welcome! Just bring your own skates (limited states will be available). ats from Rolling Spirits NH, and enter for a chance to win fun raffle prizes generously donated by local Kennebunk businesses. The event is made possible through a partnership with the Kennebunk Rotary Club, Go Kennebunks: Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Arundel Chamber, Kennebunk Savings, Martin's Point Health Care, and other generous community sponsors.

Whether you skate, snack, or cheer on others, your participation makes a meaningful difference for families in need. Every glide helps make a difference and donations welcome! Just bring your own skates (limited states will be available).

Laurence “Bud” Garland served on Sweetser’s Board of Directors for more than 33 years. Laurence often spoke of his respect and appreciation for the Sweetser staff and the Garland Award was created, in his honor, to acknowledge those who personify his exceptional service to Sweetser and the …greater community.

All Sweetser employees are dedicated professionals and the Garland Award is intended for those who go above and beyond in their jobs and in enriching the community. Please join us in congratulating Joyce Reny, Sweetser's Senior Billing & Collections Specialist, as the recipient of this past year’s Garland Award!

Nomination Remarks:

“This individual is a true positive force within the Patient Accounts department and an inspiring ambassador for Sweetser’s values of respect, integrity, commitment, compassion, and hope. She consistently volunteers her time and energy at a variety of Sweetser events—including the annual Gala and Auction, Ruel Ricker Day, even helping us paint the children’s residential buildings and—always encouraging others to join in and make a difference for Sweetser clients.

Her enthusiasm for engagement activities is contagious. Whether she’s leading Halloween decorating, building snowmen, or organizing team participation, she brings people together with creativity, warmth, and genuine enthusiasm. A natural leader, she doesn’t hesitate to jump in wherever help is needed and often brings forward new ideas to improve processes and boost team spirit.

Beyond Sweetser, her compassion extends deeply into the community. She works tirelessly behind the scenes in Biddeford to support individuals experiencing homelessness—providing blankets, clothing, food, and comfort. Through her nonprofit organization, Sprinkle, she raises donations to meet the immediate needs of the local homeless population. Her efforts go far beyond material support; she takes the time to connect personally, ensuring that people are heard, cared for, and connected with additional resources and shelters.

Balancing work, family, and volunteerism with apparent ease, she exemplifies the very heart of Sweetser—compassion, dedication, and community spirit. Her caring nature and unwavering commitment to helping others make her a most deserving recipient of the Garland Award.”

SWEETSER SALUTES YOU

We celebrated the milestone anniversaries of our amazing team members throughout our organization. Here are those we recognized at our Saco School and Saco Admin Building.

SACO SCHOOL

💛Kiessa Treadwell, 5 years of service, Youth and Family …Counselor
💛Melanie Moore, 5 years of service, Manager Child Residential Services
💛Jennifer Gawronski, 5 years of service, Day Treatment Clinician
💛Sarah Proctor, 5 years of service, Supervisor Youth Residential Services
💛Daniel O'Gorman, 10 years of service, Teacher Saco School

SACO ADMIN

💛Ashley Phillips – 5 years of service – Billing Supervisor
💛Lindsey Gray – 5 years of service – Youth & Family Counselor
💛Fran Hogue – 10 years of service – Client Records Specialist

Thank you Town & Country Federal Credit Union Maine! 💚

Feeling a bit of 2026 jitters? Between the headlines, uncertainty, and the cost of living, it’s easy to feel like you’re caught in a perfect storm of stress. 🌪️

The good news? You aren’t alone, and there are small steps you can take right now to reclaim your peace of mind. …🧘‍♂️

Watch the latest Mental Health Moment about why you might be feeling this way and how to navigate the uncertainty this new year.👇

If you are feeling a bit anxious to start the year, you are not alone. According to a new poll from the American Psychological Association, the things Americans are most anxious about right now are:
💲Personal finances – 59%
❓Uncertainty of the next year – 53%
📺Current events – …49%

Check out some tips and resources available in WMTW-TV's latest Mental Health Moment with Meghan Torjussen WMTW…

Anxious about 2026? You’re not alone, but there are things you can do

“If you group personal finances, uncertainty, and current events, it’s a recipe for a perfect storm. People are feeling stressed out, nervous, and…

www.wmtw.com

In the past year, we’ve trained hundreds in Mental Health First Aid, including with our friends at Sanford-Springvale YMCA, Portland Recovery Community Center, Milestone Recovery, and Portland Rotary Club, to name a few.

Join us for our next FREE Youth Mental Health First Aid Training …Thursday, January 22nd with our friends at Sanford Community Adult Education, located at 688 Main Street.

Learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in youth and how best to respond to and support them in their journey. This FREE training by Sweetser & the National Council for Mental Wellbeing will empower you to support the young people in your life during their most challenging moments. PLUS, you’ll earn a certification!

SIGN UP: https://www.sweetser.org/training-institute-course/223-youth-mental-health-first-aid-training-in-person/