LEWISTON — An effort to raise $50,000 in 50 days for the downtown community center The Root Cellar is as much about commitment as it is about money, according to director Josh Furrow.

“It’s very important for Lewiston and Auburn to support The Root Cellar as a community,” Furrow said. “That’s the big push for us now.”

The “Save the Root Cellar” campaign kicked off Sunday. Furrow said the goal is raise $50,000 by Oct. 20. That should be enough to keep the center going and save programs that aim to help the impoverished downtown’s children and teens.

“We’ve had enough donations over the past four years to keep things moving,” Furrow said. “But our expenses have gone up as well. And the combination of lower donations and higher expenses, we’ve come to a point where our reserves are kind of gone.”

The Root Cellar began on Portland’s Munjoy Hill in 1984, offering teen and after-school programs. Since then, it has grown to include food distribution, English as a second language classes, community dentistry and counseling.

Work on the Lewiston center began in 2005 with the purchase of an the old cement-block building at 89 Birch St. Volunteers began slowly renovating the building.

“I think this effort now is also about getting local volunteers out,” said Patti Gagne, a member of the board. “Originally, we started out strong. But we had a lot of great people come from away last summer. And the local folks backed off a little, once they realized there was help out there. But then the away help departed, so now we need our local people to recommit.”

The Birch Street building is central to downtown’s youth, near the corner of Bartlett Street and within walking distance of Lewiston High and Longley Elementary schools.

It’s just right for the non-denominational Christian group and the people it aims to help. Regular programs, such as weekly rummage sales, have continued all summer. Furrow said the main programs, a teen drop-in center and after-school program for kids between 6 and 10 years old, both begin next week.

The teen program offers homework help, advocacy and skills building.

“As we grow and expand, I hope it grows into an opportunity for them, not just learning skills but learning entrepreneurial skills,” Furrow said. “We want to help teenagers create a work ethic. We hear talk about jobs all the time, and it’s no secret: one third of Maine’s impoverished kids live in downtown Lewiston. I feel the best way to change that is to invest in those teenagers and give them the skills and move forward.”

The children’s program will offer homework help as well as regular cooking and crafting programs.

The fundraising effort has already had some impact. A two-day campaign Sunday and Monday on online fundraiser on Indiegogo.com picked up more than $6,000. Tip jars with the “Save The Root Cellar” logo will begin appearing in Lewiston-Auburn cafes and ice cream shops this week and Martindale Country Club is hosting a golf tournament Sept. 23 to benefit the charity.

staylor@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link