On Monday, October 30, Gorham residents, like many towns in Maine, awoke to downed trees and no power. School was canceled and most of the town’s Village businesses were closed or running at a diminished capacity.
By the next morning, Gorham schools were back in session and the Superintendent’s office sent word via phone, email and social media, that it would be opening two “warming centers” for residents without power.
Great Falls Elementary and Gorham Middle School opened from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for those needing a shower, a phone charge, an internet connection, or just a place to be warm. They extended this invitation for two more evenings from 5–8 p.m., as Wednesday found over 2,000 residents still in the dark. By Thursday, the number improved but was still over 1,200.
Members of the Gorham Police and Fire Departments were on hand at GMS to direct participants to the library, where outlets and comfortable seating for internet use were located, and to the nearby locker rooms for showers. Nearly 60 people took advantage of the GMS option over the three-night span.
Photo credit Stacy SawyerA group of students enjoyed the snacks provided by Unum during one of Great Falls Elementary’s open evenings.
“We went over to the Middle School yesterday around 3:40. We were the only ones there at the time. We took showers, checked email and charged phones. It was quick and easy,” said Stacie Hutchinson of her experience on Halloween day.
At Great Falls Elementary, each night offered food as well as warmth and showers. On Halloween, after being contacted by a parent of Village Elementary, GHOP donated a hot meal by way of pizzas. A mother of two said they came in for hot showers at 8 p.m. and still found the pizza warm and the environment inviting.
Unum also donated healthy snacks, and several young members of the Fire Department played games in the gym with kids who needed to release some energy while their parents used their computers or showered. On the final evening, November 2, the Gorham Nutrition Program provided soup, sandwiches and water to the effort. In all, 130 were warmed and fed during the week.