Thank you, Maine

After hours of singing to classic throwback songs, multiple rest stops, lots of snacks, and a few naps later, we arrived. We pull up onto this rocky road and as we looked to our right we see many groups of people. We then looked to ourselves and realized that we were definitely not in New Jersey anymore. I guess you could say that we were all quick to judge our surroundings, I mean wouldn’t you if there was no Starbucks, Panera or even a mall in a 50 mile radius? But there was no going back, as we were in the middle of nowhere (Cherryfield, Maine to be exact) and oblivious to the fact that the next few days would change our lives forever.

One of the five philanthropies Sigma Kappa supports is the Maine Seacoast Mission. What is that? Well, it's comparable to Habitat for Humanity. Groups of people who live around the mission volunteer their time to provide for the people in Cherryfield. This ranges from school supplies for kids, to food bags, winter clothes, and even repairing homes. As volunteers, me and seven of my sisters worked six to seven hours a day, with our Advisor on the worksite, a Cherryfield native, and the biggest character probably in all of Maine, Maurice.

We were set to start renovating a home for an older couple in the area. The couple, Anita and Holus while only living on social security checks, go above and beyond when it comes to giving back to their community. Anita knits hundreds of hats and scarves for residents in the area when it starts to get cold, as well as baking beautiful and delicious goodies for the Seacoast Mission.

When we arrived to their property, Anita instantly came out of the house to greet us with homemade cookies and lemonade. Holus was more quiet, as he mostly did work in the garage or read a paper in the kitchen and watched us while we worked. Each day we grew closer and closer to the family, we got the chance to tour their trailer home, see pictures of all their family and friends that filled almost all of the walls in the house. We knew that this was a couple that truly loves and cares about everyone that comes into their life.

As Friday rolled around, we knew that this was going to be a very bittersweet day. We finished painting the entire house and it looked absolutely beautiful. Even Holus thought so, that’s when we knew we did a good job. However, Friday meant that our work-week was over, and it was time to say goodbye to Anita and Holus. As Anita gave us all a homemade knit hat, we look over and see Holus, quiet as normal, but visibly upset. We start to give them hugs and both Anita and Holus begin to cry, telling us how appreciative they were and how they wanted to adopt us.

But what they didn’t know is that while Anita, Holus, and even Maurice were thanking us for the work we did on the house, we were thanking them. Thanking them for showing us how important it is to give back, for showing us how others live in wretched conditions and that we truly are lucky to live the way we do, and for showing us how important love and friendships truly are and that no amount of money can replace that.

I can't thank Sigma Kappa enough for allowing us the opportunity to let eight dedicated, yet semi-dysfunctional girls from Jersey go to Maine. Thank you for bringing the eight of us closer and giving us an unexplainable bond, for allowing us to meet some of the most selfless people I have ever come across, for bringing us to Maurice, Anita, and Holus, for showing us where we first began (shout out to Colby College), but most of all, thank you for changing my life.