MILLINOCKET – Help getting connected to food and medicine, applying to unemployment or finding information can be difficult right now.
A group called Mobilize Katahdin is working to make that easier.
“We’ve already seen the impacts of COVID-19 in our community,” said Mobilize Katahdin co-founder, Matt DeLaney. “Every non-essential business is closed, people are getting laid off all around us, we’ve seen revenues coming into different programs stop, so the needs are already there.”
The group connects resources such as first responders, healthcare workers, and unemployment information, making it easier for people to find who they need to talk to.
“What we were seeing was a lot of people saying ‘I want to help’ and a lot of people saying ‘I need help,'” DeLaney explained. “One of the things that was missing was this piece that was making those connections happen by organizing resources.”
“It was a coordination effort to bring the need together with the resource in the most efficient way,” said Shelly Blaisdell, resource coordinator for Mobilize Katahdin.
Mobilize Katahdin is still growing, continuously adding new resources.
“If you’re an organization interested in being part of this coalition and you’re willing to put your name out there and willing to attend meetings, and share what you can do. Share best practices. Share resources. That’s what it takes at this point,” DeLaney said.
You can find Mobilize Katahdin on Facebook or call 370-1581 for more information.
