Weekly Outreach Reports – Spring/Summer
Weekly Outreach Report – June 26 & 27, 2025
On Thursday we connected with 54 unsheltered neighbors and 14 more in the shelter. One friend opened up about the deep loneliness of shelter life—grateful we could just be there and listen.
Cereal, hot chocolate, lemonade, and snack packs hit the spot. Matt greeted a friend with “So great to see you, buddy,” and he replied, “It’s so great to be seen.” Later, we took a longtime friend to the ER after a serious brown recluse bite. Her leg was swollen, and she’d just been released from the ICU. It all matters. Every moment. Every person. 💛
Friday was another extremely busy day of connection and care!
• 96 served at the shelter
• 133 reached on the streets
• 13 clinic transports (thank you Matt & Laura!)
• 80+ received clothing
The last Friday of the month means Clothing Day at the shelter – a favorite for volunteers and guests alike. One volunteer shared, “Seeing someone’s eyes light up when you hand them just the right shirt—that’s the best part.”
On the street, fresh fruit, sandwiches, snacks, pastries, hot cocoa & cold drinks helped meet the rising hunger—but food that used to last all day is now gone in under an hour. We were grateful not to run out of water this time!
We also celebrated with a long-term shelter guest who is moving into his new apartment—congratulations!
During outreach, one individual experienced a serious crisis. Thanks to Matt and a visiting Milestone team member, help arrived just in time. This was a powerful reminder of how essential community collaboration is.
We’re here every week—because of you.
Weekly Outreach Report – June 19 & 20, 2025
Two powerful days of connection and care in Portland 💛
Thursday
We connected with 42 individuals, made 7 clinic transports, and led a group at the shelter—described by one participant as “a truly uplifting experience.”
He also shared a beautiful hope to someday see us on the sidewalk in his favorite town of Kittery—just catching up, like old friends. That moment of imagining a better future reminds us why we keep showing up.
We were thrilled to have one of our very first volunteers, Lucy, and her husband join us! 💚
As we left town, we passed a heartbreaking scene: a bulldozer, public works trucks, and police clearing out what looked like one cart. Displacement continues, and solutions remain too few.
Friday
• 110 served at the shelter
• 130 on the street
• 15 clinic transports
• 3 referrals
• 32 received clothing
We ended the day visiting a longtime friend who’s now housed. Seeing him proudly show off his apartment was a joy—but also a reminder: after years on the street, housing alone isn’t enough. Ongoing support matters.
It was warm, windy, and we ran out of water—more proof that the need is growing. This crisis isn’t going away… and neither are we.
Weekly Outreach Report – June 12 & 13, 2025
Thursday
Outreach Reflections from Nancy.
Today was my first time joining Matt for Thursday outreach — not new to the schedule (we started in March), but new to me being out there. And it brought me right back to where this all began: just the two of us, hot chocolate in hand, simply showing up and being present. We didn’t bring much — just hot cocoa, lemonade, cereal, and milk — but it was enough. The vibe was calm. Folks were open and willing to connect. We served 67 people, made 4 transports, and offered 4 referrals to local resources — even personally dropping one neighbor off with a community partner.
There was visible struggle — mental illness, high emotions — but also so much beauty in the conversations we shared. After so many Fridays focused on big resource distribution, today reminded me how powerful simple presence and connection can truly be.
Friday
• Individuals served: 178
• HSC Shelter: 65
• Street: 113
Matt was joined by Pastor Jeff Logan from Grace Street Ministry early this morning for clinic runs, and together they transported 20 individuals to treatment. Since launching this effort in March, we’ve now helped 115 people take that critical first step toward recovery.
Food insecurity continues to rise among our unhoused neighbors here in Portland. More and more folks are sharing they’ve gone days without a full meal. And with the heat rising, cold drinks are in high demand. Our “Lemon-unch” (pink lemonade + fruit punch) is now a favorite — and Michele’s amazing sandwiches and Deb’s sweet treats were once again a hit.
A special shout-out to Kathleen Dobson for the surprise donation of meatballs, meats, and cheeses — it was so appreciated!
Even as we were pulling away, folks were still running up to the ambulance in search of food and water. What we bring never feels like enough… but the relationships we build and the hope we carry? Those matter. Deeply. 💚
Thank you to each and every one of you who make this possible.
Weekly Outreach Report – June 5 & 6, 2025
On Thursday, we reached 50 neighbors during street outreach and led our weekly group at the HSC shelter.
On Friday, we connected with 85 residents at the shelter and 97 on the street, providing clothing to nearly 40 individuals. Matt & Peggy from Preble Street Outreach made 5 clinic runs, helping 13 people access life-saving treatment.
We’re running out of food faster than ever, and the need is growing. Hydration is a major need too — cold water, lemonade, and drink packets were the top asks.
We’re grateful for our amazing community partners from Milestone HOME TEAM, Learning Collaborative, Needle Exchange, Opportunity Alliance, and Common Space who stopped over to say hello. One of those partners shared a sobering stat: in many places, unsheltered individuals are only receiving 2 full meals per week. We must do better.
We were thrilled to see some longtime neighbors now holding keys to their own homes! What a milestone.
Thank you for standing with us and those we serve. 💛
Weekly Outreach Report – May, 30, 2025
Last Friday, we connected with 194 unhoused neighbors—88 at the shelter and 106 on the street.
It was our monthly clothing day at the shelter, and the bins were a hit! 👕👖 One man lit up when we handed him pants that actually fit—a rare find. Moments like that remind us why we do this.
Out on the street, a first-time visitor told us all his clothes had been stolen. We were able to get him a full set—pants, shirt, socks, and even underwear. His gratitude said it all.
An unhoused friend was relieved to hear that Matt and Nancy were just on vacation. Their presence was missed by all!
There’s real community out here—people looking out for each other, sharing, helping, and remembering names. 💛 We’re so grateful to everyone who donates and makes this work possible. You bring hope. ✨
*****
You may have noticed that the outreach days and the number of people we support with food, clothing and hygiene items are growing. We cannot do what we do without you! Thank you for helping us make a difference. 💛
Weekly Outreach Report – May, 23, 2025
Outreach days start early with prepping hot chocolate, coffee, lemonade, and organizing supplies. At the shelter, residents welcome the distraction and treats. Despite the gloomy weather, about 90 residents visited our table, enjoying greetings, smiles, and pastries. Volunteers connected with old and new friends, while bingo attracted its usual crowd.
By noon, we regrouped on Preble St, and fortunately, the rain held off. Around 70 more friends visited, many in need of warm clothing, which we were glad to provide. One visitor gratefully commented on the quality of our items, thanks to our generous supporters, who understand that EVERYONE deserves something “nice” at least once in a while.
Our lunch offerings, especially fresh fruit, were in high demand. With the community spread out, it’s not uncommon for people to go days without food.
Our small dining table, set up once a week, can’t fill the gap left by the absence of a neighborhood soup kitchen, but it serves as a reminder that everyone belongs and matters.
Weekly Outreach Report – May, 15 & 16, 2025
Thursday Outreach:
At the HSC, we ran a small group, focused on compassion (and self-compassion).
On the streets, breakfast and hot cocoa was served (captain crunch was a favorite) in the AM, and snack packs and punch in the PM Big thanks to Debbie for always keeping us well stocked to meet the ever-growing needs each outreach day and to my friend and coworker Georgianna Elizabeth for coming out this morning to help serve our friends out here 💚
Important to point out that overdoses are clearly on the rise. I have responded to between 50-100 fatal overdoses in my role at the funeral home. The common denominator on fatal overdoses…. the person was alone. There is more safety in numbers, alone people do not stand a chance. Let’s spread the word- DO NOT USE ALONE
Friday Outreach:
Today we connected with 95 neighbors at the shelter and 90 on the street, made 6 referrals to community resources, and provided clothing to 20+ people in need.
Our team completed 9 clinic transports to support folks in recovery receiving medication-assisted treatment.
A powerful moment: someone spotted our ambulance and said, “Hope Squad’s here!” They were waiting — and they knew we’d show up. That trust means everything.
One volunteer reflected on the overloaded cart in this photo:
“That cart holds everything they own. It’s their shelter, their storage, their safety net. It’s heartbreaking and humbling, and a reminder of just how many challenges everyone on the streets face on a daily basis.”
We show up because they matter. Every. Single. Week. 💛
Weekly Outreach Report – May, 8 & 9, 2025
Thursday Outreach:
Our team connected with over 50 unhoused friends, both on the streets and at the HSC shelter. One special highlight was leading a music group at the shelter — it was meaningful, uplifting, and a lot of fun for everyone involved!
Friday Outreach:
Matt and Pastor Jeff Logan from Grace-Street Ministry were out early, transporting 12 individuals to area clinics and 1 to the needle exchange. Our team also responded to a serious medical emergency during the day.
In total, we served 92 neighbors at the shelter and 104 on the street — reaching 196 people with food, care, and kindness. One of our volunteers noticed something special: our friends on the street were more appreciative than we’ve ever experienced before. But it was also clear that they’re not getting enough to eat — our food ran out in just over an hour when it normally lasts for two! The food at the shelter was also gone quickly.
We handed out a lot of blankets this week too. People are feeling frustrated — with the weather, with being constantly moved by police, losing their belongings, and struggling to stay warm. We can only hope and pray for warmer days ahead.
On a brighter note, we had a sweet moment with some shelter residents: thanks to donated art and craft supplies, some of our crafty friends got to start creating with materials they’d never used before — and they were so excited to dive in!
As always, we enjoyed chatting with our old friends and getting to know some new ones. Our shelves of hoodies, sweatpants, jeans, and blankets emptied fast, and the need is still great.
Thank you to everyone who supports our mission — your donations truly make a difference. We need your help now more than ever! Please check out our Amazon wish list and seasonal needs.
Weekly Outreach Report – May, 2, 2025
It was an incredibly busy day today from beginning to end.
We were out early for our runs to the area Methadone clinics, and we were happy to transport 14 of our friends. Great thanks to Peggy Lynch from Preble Street Outreach who rode with folks in the back of the ambulance this morning. It is wonderful to hear the laughter and conversation coming from the back as I drive. With each passing week, relationships are developing and strengthening, and we are grateful to be able to help support their recovery in this way.
We served 107 at the HSC. We all enjoy seeing so many familiar faces each week; sharing a hug or a laugh, and just sharing time with them all.
The street was busy, with 102 served over the course of the afternoon, and close to 30 received clothing. Debbie made sure the tables were loaded with amazing treats, Several referrals were made for services/supports, and we walked someone to the crisis center.
We had three new volunteers out with us today- Mike, Michelle and Jenn, and it was a joy to see how quickly and easily they have fit in with our team, and how beautifully they connect with our friends out here.
There has been an uptick in overdoses, and it seems that the drugs circulating in the community are making many very sick. The number of our friends that are currently hospitalized grows with each passing day. It’s important to share what we see out here, and the challenges our friends face each day.
The news of the impending closing of the York County Shelter is devastating. That program has housed so many, and the implications of that closure are hard to fathom. These are troubling times, and we worry so about our friends out here all the time. We love and care about their welfare, and try to focus on always ensuring they know how much they mean to us.
Thanks to one and all who support our mission.
Weekly Outreach Report – April 24 & 25, 2025
Thursday April 24 Outreach
We were very happy to see clear skies as we headed out on street outreach early this morning. Annie, a co-worker of mine from Spurwink and her sister Libby joined us in our travels.
For a couple hours we connected with folks just waking up after sleeping outside, and the hot chocolate and snack packs were gone quickly. Five referrals were made; Annie and Libby walked one of our friends to the living room crisis center, and we drove others to Commonspace, where they could get connected to peer support services, a place to rest and a warm meal.
We then traveled to the HSC shelter, where we were joined by volunteers Karen, Zahira and Debbie. We had our largest group gathering so far.
Then, armed with MORE snack packs (thanks as always Debbie) and cold drinks, we connected with some more folks living outside, all of whom were hungry.
We thank you all who support our mission in so many ways.
Friday April 25 Outreach
We started early, transporting 10 friends to their MAT clinics — supporting recovery journeys is an honor. At HSC, we served 80+ neighbors and welcomed our new volunteer, Mike!
Street outreach stayed busy with over 100 visits, lifted by the beautiful weather. Lisa’s chicken salad sandwiches were a huge hit, and 20+ received clothing.
The best moment: one of our longtime friends was placed at Elena’s Way shelter. Watching them walk there with a huge smile was unforgettable.
Thank you for supporting this mission and making days like this possible!
Weekly Outreach Report – April 18, 2025
We had a full crew today and were so excited to welcome new volunteer Michele!
We served 123 at the shelter, 102 on the street, and gave clothing to 28 neighbors. With extra hands, we had more time for hugs and heartfelt conversations—the kind that stick with you. 9 folks got rides to the clinic, the bingo table was buzzing, and 100 Easter goodie bags (packed by Peggy & Sophia) were handed out—each with 2 surprise bus passes inside!
Zahira handed out 80 beautiful Easter baskets with treats & a Dunkin’ gift card. Everyone’s eyes lit up—it was like being a kid again, even if just for a moment.
One volunteer said it best: “It feels like a reunion when we see familiar faces. We really miss our friends when they’re not around.”
And shoutout to Mary-Kathryn for restocking the shelter shelves with books & puzzles—such a gift!
Weekly Outreach Report – April 10 & 11, 2025
Thursday April 10 Outreach
Spring, where the )&;$:)! are you? As I ventured out early yesterday morning, the toll the extended cold weather is having on our friends was apparent. Pulling over to distribute hot cocoa and connect with folks, I saw them approaching the rig covered in blankets, shivering, hands dark red and so cold. Maine is a tough place to live outside.
One of our friends who had been outside all week was clearly not well, so I got them into the ambulance to warm up until the Preble Street Learning Collaborative opened where they could get a respite bed and medical care.
I was joined by Volunteers Debbie and Zahira, as well as Taylor from Harm Reduction, for our HSC shelter outreach and CHAT (connection, hope & thriving) group. We had a great visit… so many wanted to connect.
The rest of the day was busy, transporting folks to Common Space, where a lovely pasta meal was being served; swinging by Harm Reduction and Spurwink, and locating some folks living outside that we worry about. Even brought someone to the laundromat! Thank you so very much for your continued support that has made this extra outreach day a reality.
Friday April 11 Outreach
This week, we served 86 residents at HSC & 109 on the street. At HSC, everyone enjoyed hot cocoa, fruit, oatmeal, sandwiches, treats, and snacks. On the street—despite Maine’s lingering winter chill (hand warmers, blankets & jackets were a must!)—donations helped us distribute clothing to 25+ people, and Wayside kept us fed, with Preble Street’s fish chowder warming hearts on this cloudy day.
One volunteer observed: “I was struck by the relief on people’s faces when they recognized a familiar Hope Squad face or got a hug from Matt. It wasn’t just about the coffee and food—it was about building a community.”
Huge thanks to our dedicated team and community for making this possible.
Weekly Outreach Report – April 3 & 4, 2025
Thursday April 3 Outreach
HSC: Karen and Matt spent a couple hours at the shelter. Karen assisted a resident with a housing application, and we otherwise just spent time sitting with folks and listening. It is a wonderful privilege to be able to connect with our friends an extra day, when we have the luxury of time, and can tell them “see you tomorrow!”
Street: The name of the game was “collaboration” as during the course of his street outreach, Matt was able to connect with Spurwink Services Living Room Crisis Center; the City’s Harm Reduction Team; Milestone Recovery HOME TEAM; Preble Street Learning Collaborative, and transport several of our friends to Commonspace for peer support and a meal. On this extra day of outreach, we specifically seek out the most vulnerable unsheltered individuals for connection.
Friday April 4 Outreach
A powerful new part of our work is helping our unhoused friends get to local Methadone clinics—a critical need identified by our community partners. With help from Peggy Lynch (Preble Street), Matt transported 10 individuals on three clinic runs this morning.
At the shelter, we served nearly 100 residents, and over 100 more on the street. Debbie had a beautiful food spread, Lisa’s sandwiches were a hit, and Matt’s lemonade-fruit punch combo was a crowd favorite. Karen gave out clothing to nearly 40 people.
It was a busy, sunny day with high spirits—and the bittersweet feeling that always follows. We’re grateful to spend time with so many we care about, even knowing the battles they face daily.
Thank you for helping us continue this work.
Read more outreach reports from Hope Squad Maine