Welcome to Maine – The Way Life Should Be.
This slogan has become an iconic part of our state. The culture here is built on profound ties to the land and communities we have built here and there’s more being built as immigrants and refugees arrive in the state. I have lived in Maine for the past six years and it is clear to me that being a Mainer does not just tell someone where you reside.
It denotes a certain mindset and disposition that can only be understood through the bond of culture and community. The Maine Mariners continue to show this in their efforts to strengthen that bond.
From October to March, in partnership with the Cross Insurance Arena, the Maine Mariners launched their “Community Collection Program.” The program featured three separate categories of items all based on the spirit of the season. According to the Mariners Vice President of Business Operations, Adam Goldberg, “Mariners games are far from just hockey.” And he’s correct. During the 2019-20 season, they partnered with three organizations to help fellow Mainers.
In October to November, the Maine Mariners partnered with the South Portland Food Cupboard to collect non-perishable goods. Mariners fans received a free ticket to a weekday regular season game in exchange for donating five items. According to feedingamerica.org, there are over 10,000 children in Cumberland County facing food insecurity and 44% of them are ineligible for federal nutrition programs.
The goal of South Portland Food Cupboard is to Feed neighbours in need and with the help from the Maine Mariners and their fans, they were able to supplement their inventory with much needed goods. To donate to SPFC, please visit southportlandfoodcupboard.org.
From December to January, their efforts changed to socks and underwear to aid the Preble Street Teen Center. On February 8th, during their game against the Brampton Beast, fans tossed packages of new underwear onto the ice after the first Mariners goal. 2,000 pairs of underwear and almost 600 pairs of socks were donated.
Preble Street Teen Center provides meals, clothing and crisis intervention for homeless and runaway youth, those who had to leave home because of abuse, as well as young adults struggling with mental health and substance abuse. For February and their shortened March schedule, 157 books were collected for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine. During their game on Sunday March 1st against the South Carolina Stingrays, (which I attended), the Mariners also collected over 500 registrations to their summer reading program, “Read with ME.”
In addition to their “Community Collections” program, there were other events that also put community at the core. Their “Stick Taps” program recognized 18 non-profit organizations during regular season home games and they also donated 55 tickets to members of the military in their Sponsor a Service Member program. Mariners goaltender Tom McCollum started “Goalies Who Give” in November and that provided four tickets for each home game to STRIVE. (STRIVE is a local non-profit that serves people of all ages that have intellectual disabilities.)
Sponsor a Service Member night.
This is what the spirit of Maine and ECHL hockey is about. Even though there are few players from Maine on the Mariners, they still embody the spirit of what our people are about. They show kindness and compassion to the people of the Portland/South Portland community and beyond by putting themselves in their shoes and really feeling for them. From the team, to the people working in their office, to the rest of the Maine Mariners staff, they truly encompass their slogan, “Community at the Core” and Maine’s beloved saying.
The Way Life Should Be.