As a Bates Community Outreach Fellow, I coordinate the Food Security Program at the Harward Center in partnership with Gather to Grow (formerly the Nutrition Center). The program connects Bates students with community initiatives across Lewiston-Auburn, including gardening, food pantry support, community events, and youth and school programming, all focused on advancing food justice and community health. It has been rewarding to come full circle–from working as a Summer Fellow with Gather to Grow, where I helped in these same areas myself–to now leading student involvement in them. In my role, I act as the primary connection between Bates students and the community partners, coordinating volunteer involvement, sharing program information and schedules, and tracking engagement through Community Pulse, Bates’s community engagement platform. I also volunteer regularly to stay connected with the work and the people behind it, ensuring that I’m engaged not only as a coordinator but also as a participant.

This work is deeply meaningful to me because Bates students’ involvement in our community can make a real difference. It is important to see Bates not as separate from Lewiston-Auburn but as part of the same community. It has been inspiring to see so many Batesies bring enthusiasm, care, and commitment to this work and truly going the extra mile to support our home here. It has also been wonderful to continue working alongside and engaging with my community partners at Gather to Grow, whose knowledge, dedication, and commitment make this work possible. 

What does this community outreach work mean to the community partner?

“The students who have been showing up to volunteer for our programs have been absolutely phenomenal. Tonight was a good example – we had at least a dozen Bates student volunteers who helped us serve 120 people.  300-350 people coming through the pantry is a normal Tuesday now, and this week it was over 400.  The uptick in student volunteers coming through the doors is really helping us fill gaps. Heaps of thanks.”

– Alison McConnell, Community Growing Manager, Gather to Grow