June 2025
Happy summer – at last! It feels like it took a long, long time to warm up.
We invite you to join us for the annual meeting of Our Town Leeds this coming Wednesday, June 25 at 6:00 p.m. at the town office. New this year, we’ll have a guest speaker: Doug Beck, Outdoor Recreation Program Manager for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Doug administers the Bureau’s grant programs, including the exciting new Maine Trails Program.
We invited Doug because we’re rounding out the ways Our Town Leeds encourages community: we’re forming a Trails Committee! If you have an interest in helping to promote trails for biking or walking in Leeds, please reach out to hello@ourtownleeds.org.
That’s in addition to our Library Committee, of course. While our dream is to establish a library in Leeds Center, we have several projects ongoing:
Our summer Story Hour will start soon. Watch our social media for details of dates & locations
Once again this summer, we’ll place a Little Free Library at Stinchfield Beach. We’re looking to place LFL’s at other locations – would you like to host or help keep them stocked?
Likewise, we’re delivering books and games twice monthly to the residents of the Spring Rock Park senior housing complex along with the emergency shelter. These materials are greatly appreciated! We welcome donations.
Coming this year! We’re partnering with the Kennebec Land Trust to create a StoryWalk at their Curtis Homestead property
If you’d like to help with any of these efforts, contact lucinda@ourtownleeds.org
We’d also like to ask you to renew your annual membership. Your financial support helps to make possible the many ways we’re working to build community in our wonderful small town. It demonstrates to foundations and other grantors that we have a base of local supporters. It also augments our ongoing fundraising efforts, including our annual Bake-Plant-Book sale, which not only raised over $1,000 but also offered affordable veggie and flower plants and gave neighbors a chance to visit.
Speaking of fundraising, we have another match opportunity. All gifts up to $1,000 will be matched dollar for dollar. There are so many ways you can help. Please consider:
Renewing your $10 annual membership for 2025 (Click here to renew!)
Making an additional contribution, knowing your gift will be matched
Following Our Town Leeds on Facebook and Instagram, and sharing our content on your accounts
Joining a committee: Communications, Finance & Fundraising, Library and now Trails!
Donating your time and skills – many hands make light work!
Attending our monthly meetings at the Town Office
Hosting a House Party to spread the word
Inviting Our Town Leeds to make a presentation to your local organization
Spread the word to friends and family who may want to get involved!
Next time you are in Augusta, we suggest you stop by to see a photography exhibit. Titled “Our Town: a Community Self Portrait”, the exhibit documents Freeport, Maine as photographed by residents during the summer of 2024. It’s a fun, beautiful exhibit that’s giving us ideas. The show is free, and located on the first floor of the Cross State Office Building at 111 Sewall St.
Thank you for joining Our Town Leeds as a member. We draw strength from working to make life in our wonderful small town a little better.