Every day, an alarming number of students are unhoused for various reasons. The Sanford Community Youth Alliance (SCYA) exists to reduce and support unaccompanied youths in Sanford who attend our schools and are at risk of becoming homeless, are actively experiencing homelessness, or are transitioning out of a temporary housing program.
SCYA is working to develop and train approved host families who can offer a teen a stable home environment. SCYA plans to provide resources for the host family and the student living with them.
Hosts must be at least 25 years old, have an individual bedroom in their home, undergo a criminal background check, and complete a host family application and an onsite interview. For more information, email Cyndy Pattershall at cyndypattershall@gmail.com.
SCYA is an advisory group comprised of community members, school personnel, and people who work in the Sanford/Springvale area. They represent organizations such as the Sanford School Department, the City of Sanford, the Sanford Housing Authority, the Sanford YMCA, and more.
Their goals are to provide displaced youth with safe shelter expeditiously so they are able to complete their high school education, engage and support host families, and help students access services that can lead in a multitude of directions for their present and future needs.
Today's high school sports schedule:
Boys First Team Basketball @ 4PM @ SHS
Boys JV Basketball @ 5:30PM @ SHS
Boys Varsity Basketball @ 7PM @ SHS
Girls JV Basketball @ 4:30PM @ Bonny Eagle HS
Girls Varsity Basketball @ 6PM @ Bonny Eagle HS
Sanford Middle Schooler Grayson Perro set up a cocoa stand to raise money to buy holiday gifts for residents of the York County Shelter Program.
He set up his stand in front of the Bowl-A-Rama on Route 109 and sold cocoa, caramel corn, cookies, and brownies.
Friends and family members joined him. This is Grayson’s fourth year operating a cocoa stand.
There's some great school news in Sanford's recent Main Street Memo!
https://mailchi.mp/fb77bdee511e/the-main-street-memo-edition-28?e=99368ca89f&fbclid=IwAR3ourdU2BtBjFdPsQIHNRWUxAI6y1oUyTp1o3bhkmU9JX0pSeRFkNM8spc
The SHS girls’ basketball team heads to Gorham this afternoon! JV tips off at 4 p.m., and Varsity follows at 5:30 p.m.
'Tis the season to spread cheer and celebrate the magic of the holidays! Margaret Chase Smith students and staff decked the halls, dressed up, and dove into a week full of festive fun during their 2023 Holiday Spirit Week.
SHS girls’ basketball improved to 4-1 with a win over Lewiston last night! Click the following link to read the game recap: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/12/27/wednesdays-high-school-roundup-madison-boys-defeat-old-orchard-beach/
Congratulations to SHS senior Tucker Walker, who was recently named to the Press Herald’s All-State football team! Read more here: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/12/23/football-2023-varsity-maine-all-state-team/
Both SHS basketball teams are in action today. The boys play in the Holiday Classic vs. Transit Tech at 5 p.m. at the Portland Expo. The girls host Lewiston, with JV tipping off at 4:30 p.m. and Varsity following at 6 p.m.
The Sanford High School Peer Helpers hosted the 1st Annual Kindness Awards the Friday before winter break. The interactive award show included events like a wrap battle, awards for kindest freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior, and a faculty lip sync battle.
Every month, Sanford Middle School students who make a positive difference in the school are honored with a certificate and a treat. Here are a few of the honorees with Mrs. Avery.
Some Margaret Chase Smith first grade students joined Mrs. Arnold and Mrs. Deschambault in another round of Arts and Crafts. The students enjoyed decorating snowflakes and making snowmen masks.
SkillsUSA students at SRTC hosted its annual holiday party for Carl J. Lamb students today. They participated in various activities, including cookie and ornament decorating, cornhole, wreath making and much more!
Sanford Middle School recently completed its Holiday Food Drive Competition, which was organized by the JMG program.
This annual event, which has been going on for over a decade, brings teachers, students, and families together to support those in need during the holiday season.
This year's food drive was a resounding success, surpassing expectations and making a significant impact on Sanford families.
Read more about it here: https://www.sanford.org/article/1385813
Today's high school athletic schedule:
Boys First Team Basketball @ 4PM @ SHS
Boys JV Basketball @ 5:30PM @ SHS
Boys Varsity Basketball @ 7PM @ SHS
Girls Varsity Basketball @ 7PM @ Noble HS
Student Council’s Annual Door Decoration Contest had its voting today. Check out some of these fantastic decorations!
SHS boys' and girls' basketball each picked up wins over Edward Little yesterday! Check out the game recaps here: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/12/19/tuesdays-high-school-roundup-falmouth-keeps-south-portland-winless/
If you receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and have lost your food due to a power outage lasting longer than eight hours, you can ask for replacement benefits.
To get your SNAP replaced, you need to report your loss of food to the Department of Human Health Services (DHHS) by emailing farmington.dhhs@maine.gov or calling 1-855-797-4357.
You will also need to fill out and submit the following form to the DHHS within ten days of your power coming back on. Here is the link to the form: https://loom.ly/zyhQQYQ
DHHS will verify the power outage and if you are eligible. They will replace up to one month’s worth of SNAP benefits.
Habitat for Humanity has opened the application for two homeownership opportunities in Sanford.
You don’t currently have to live in Sanford but must be working or living in York County to be eligible. To qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home, you must:
Live or work in York County for at least a year
Fall within the income guidelines based on your household size
Be willing to complete 200-400 hours of sweat equity on the building site or at the Kennebunk Restore
Have a need for safe and affordable housing
Applications are accepted until January 19th and can be downloaded on their website at www.habitatyorkcounty.org/homeownership
The office will be closed between December 25th and January 1st. Please direct all questions to Habitat for Humanity by emailing Program@habitatyorkcounty.org or calling 207-985-4850
The elves were busy in culinary today, making gingerbread cookies with the Pre-K and Early Childhood Education students. Pre-K students decorated their own cookies with some assistance. They came back to pick up their baked cookies after a short story only to find that their gingerbread men had jumped out of the oven and were hiding out in the school. The students hunted for their gingerbread runaways until they found a trail of flour that led to their cookies hiding in the classroom!
