Kaydenz Kitchen Food Pantry

10/09/2026

Loud fades fast. Quiet stays. Most people think attention comes from shouting the longest. The truth? It comes from leaving a mark they can't shake off.

“If it wasn’t for this place, I probably wouldn’t be alive right now”

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

TO MY FRIEND, MR. DREW & Family. ❤️

Some people open businesses. Some people create programs. And then some people create something far more meaningful. They create memories, inspire generations, and leave a lasting impact on the communities around them. Mr. Drew and his family are some of those people.

With the announcement that Mr. Drew and His Animals will be closing the doors of their Education Center, I wanted to take a moment to recognize something that can sometimes get lost when we hear about a closing.

The closing of a building does not erase the impact of the person who brought it to life. If you've ever had the opportunity to meet Mr. Drew or Susan, you know that their passion isn't something they turn on when the cameras are rolling or when an audience is in front of them. It's who they are.

Their excitement is genuine. Their knowledge is incredible. And their love for the animals, the children, the families, and the communities they serve is something you simply cannot manufacture.

They are the kind of people who can turn curiosity into excitement, fear into understanding, and an ordinary afternoon into a memory someone carries for the rest of their life. But what I admire most about their family isn't just what they've built. It's the resilience behind it.

And Mr. Drew, your mission has never been limited to four walls. It's in every child who discovered a love for animals because of you. Every family that made a memory together. Every person who learned to appreciate a creature they once feared. Every community event you showed up for. And every smile you created simply by doing what you love.

That impact doesn't close when the doors do. To Mr. Drew and your entire family: THANK YOU.

Thank you for your resilience. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for the countless ways you've made our community a better place. And most importantly, thank you for reminding us what genuine passion for your work looks like.

The Education Center may be closing, but the inspiration, the memories, and the impact will live on. Your family's impact is one of the greatest ones our community will remember. ❤️

10/07/2026

The gentleman standing in the middle of this picture has been a regular guest at our facility. He was born with brittle bone disease, a condition that has presented challenges throughout his life. When he first entered our program, he rolled through our doors in a wheelchair.

It would have been easy to look at everything stacked against him and accept that this was his situation.

He didn't. He put in the work. Countless appointments. Grueling physical therapy. Pain. Setbacks. And countless moments when quitting would have been easier than pushing forward. While our team worked alongside him on the barriers surrounding homelessness, he did the incredibly difficult work of rebuilding himself.

Yesterday, we got to witness something we'll remember for a very long time. The man who once ROLLED INTO our facility in a wheelchair...WALKED OUT into housing. ❤️

A stable roof over his head. A stronger physical foundation beneath him. And a man mentally prepared to face whatever challenges come next.

Homelessness does not erase determination. Addiction does not erase potential. Disability does not erase possibility. And someone's circumstances today do not get to write the ending of their story. We will keep talking about the difficult realities of homelessness. Those conversations matter. But we're going to talk just as loudly about resilience, progress, and people putting in the work.

THIS IS WHAT WE STAND FOR ❤️

10/07/2026

A day in the life…

Case Managers helping guests get connected to services

Food Truck on site serving Shepherds Pie for the day

Community Members dropping off coffee supplies, extra clothing, and puzzles

Staff working 4/8/12 hour shifts 

Local businesses dropping off premade meals or evening snacks

Law Enforcement stopping by to inquire about neighborhood activities

Bedards Pharmacy dropping off medications

This is Community ❤️

10/05/2026

THIS IS OUR WHY. (Shared with permission from the family)

There are moments in this work that are difficult to put into words.

Not long ago, a couple walked through the doors of our Emergency Warming Center as guests. They were experiencing homelessness. Their future was uncertain. And like so many of the people we serve, it would have been easy for the outside world to look at one chapter of their lives and decide they already knew the rest of their story.

They didn't. Today, they are housed. They are 16 months sober. And now, they are Mom and Dad. Their beautiful newborn didn't enter the world wondering where the family would sleep that night.
No warming center waiting for them. There wasn't a question of where they would go next. Their baby went home.

Home to a roof. Home to stability. Home to two parents who fought incredibly hard to change the direction of their lives.

Our program had the privilege of walking alongside them, providing support and stability while they did the hard work of building something different. Yesterday, this story came full circle in a way none of us will forget. A couple of our staff who had been part of their journey were invited to visit the family and meet their newest addition. They left as “new aunties.”

There are plenty of stereotypes surrounding homelessness. That people don't want help. That addiction can't be overcome. That we're enabling people by providing a resource. That people never really change.

Now look at these pictures. This is what happens when we refuse to define people by the hardest chapter of their lives. 16 months sober. Housed. A family together. A newborn coming home to safety and stability. That's not enabling homelessness. That's helping create a pathway out of it.

And perhaps the greatest measure of success isn't that this family no longer needs our Emergency Warming Center. It's knowing that their child may never have to.

To this incredible Mom and Dad: Congratulations. You did the hard work. You kept going. And thank you for letting members of our team stay part of your lives long after you stopped being our guests. And to the newest member of this beautiful little family: Welcome to the world, little one. You've already got a couple extra aunties and uncles cheering you on. ❤️

10/03/2026

The most amazing people I know, both staff and guests ❤️

The center continues to work toward being the city's only low-barrier homeless shelter.

10/02/2026

We are officially hiring for the 2026–2027 Emergency Warming Center season.

But before you apply, understand something: We aren't looking for people to simply fill time slots. We're looking for people who care.
People who can look beyond someone's worst day and still see their potential. People who understand that sometimes the person yelling at you is really hurting. That the person who has been turned away everywhere else still deserves dignity.

This work isn't easy. There will be long days & nights. Difficult conversations. Challenging behaviors. Frustrating days. There will be moments when patience gets tested and moments when you'll wonder whether you're making any difference at all. Then there will be moments that remind you exactly why you're here!

We're looking for people who want to be part of those moments.
Yes, this is employment. Yes, there is a paycheck.
But if the paycheck is the only reason you're here, this probably isn't the right job for you.

So if you're compassionate but accountable, can treat someone with dignity while maintaining boundaries, believe people deserve another opportunity, and want to finish a shift knowing your time actually meant something…WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. ❤️

Email Resume To: [email protected]
Phone: (207) 481-0553
Currently Hiring for All Shifts

10/02/2026

FOUR YEARS. ONE MISSION. A STRONGER PATH FORWARD

We are incredibly grateful to MaineHousing for once again investing in our organization and our community as we prepare to operate the Emergency Warming Center for Lewiston-Auburn for the fourth consecutive year.

For too long, the conversation surrounding homelessness has focused on managing the immediate crisis.

How do we get someone out of the cold tonight?
How do we make sure they have food, safety and dignity tonight?
How do we make sure they survive another Maine winter?

Those things matter tremendously. But if that's where our work ends, we haven't addressed the reasons someone remains homeless tomorrow. Now we are focused on: How do we help make sure they don't need a warming center next year?

That means putting greater emphasis on case management, obtaining identification and personal documentation, connecting individuals with Primary Care Providers and other services, removing barriers to housing, and developing realistic plans toward long-term housing stability.

A warming center should be a doorway, not a destination. A warm spot to provide stability while someone works toward the next step.

Thank you to MaineHousing for continuing to believe in this work, and to Lewiston and Auburn for continuing to work alongside us as we build a stronger regional response.

Year Four. Same commitment. Stronger system. Greater focus on what comes next. ❤️

Remove Barriers. Remove Judgment. Create Opportunity.

09/29/2026

After a bad day, the chair folds

Don’t be the chair! 💯