Ruth Bentley is indeed a special person. She spends her free time helping others, despite enduring three bouts of cancer over the years and beating all the odds. "I am not going to feel sorry for myself," says Ruth. "I don't think life can really be fulfilled unless you give of yourself."

 

Ruth is a very positive person and has a strong belief in faith. As a daughter of a Lutheran Preacher, Ruth grew up giving. She taught Sunday School in her father's church and eventually earned an MSW at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1968 she and her husband moved to Sanford. She worked for Head Start as a social worker and noticed that Sweetser was opening a residential home in Kennebunk for five adolescents and pre-adolescents. She volunteered to mentor the children, taking them to restaurants, apple picking and on field trips for birthday parties and holidays.

 

She also volunteered at Sweetser's Pre-School Program in Springvale every Friday for seven years. The program could not sustain itself due to funding issues, much to her dismay. Ruth feels strongly that helping children earlier is better. "It was natural for me to help these young children," says Ruth. "I just take kids and do things that I would normally do with my own children."

 

Ruth also serves on Sweetser's Volunteer Advisory Committee and is active with her church, serving on the Social Concerns Committee at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kennebunk. She moved to Kennebunkport 12 years ago and can't seem to find enough time in the day to do all the things she would like to do. Her love for classical music led her to volunteer playing the organ at the Baptist Church in Saco. She has also been involved with United Way and was a spokesperson for Southern Maine Medical Center's Treatment Program.

 

Sweetser is grateful to Ruth for her commitment and dedication to helping those who are less fortunate. She not only gives her time, but financially supports many of the organizations she is involved with, including Sweetser. Her compassion and energy is an inspiration to all of us.

 

 

For more than 25 years, Kathy Meeker has played a significant role for Sweetser, serving as a volunteer, board member, supporter and advocate.

 

She was first introduced to Sweetser's mission in the 1970's by her good friend and former Sweetser board chairperson, Connie Kent. As a former teacher and having served 15 years on the board of Howard Mental Health Services in Vermont, Kathy was a perfect fit.

 

During her years on Sweetser's board, Kathy served as both chairperson and on several committees, including Facilities, Governance, Finance and Planning. Although she has recently "retired" as a board member, Kathy still volunteers on committees because of her special interest in improving the lives of children and families.

 

One of her greatest pleasures on the board was participating on the Building Committee, which helped oversee the construction of The School at Sweetser on the Saco campus in 1991. Her love for children and education made this an easy decision for her. Kathy became so involved, the board gave her a hard hat when the project was completed!

 

Kathy and her husband, Irving, went on to donate funds to build the Lincoln Library at the school, named after President Lincoln for her committment to civil rights and educational freedom. This tribute honors both Irv's father, Lincoln, and a beloved family friend, Jenny Eva Sloan, who parents were slaves.

 

Kathy's commitment to volunteerism reaches far beyond Sweetser. To name a few other organizations she has donated her time and wisdom to Maine Maritime Museum, Portland Stage Company, Falmouth Conservation Trust, the Falmouth School Board and Middlebury College, where Irv continues to serve as a trustee.

 

The Meeker's have paved a clear path of giving and sharing as a legacy for their four children and nine grandchildren, who are also commited to volunteerism and charitable giving. She may not realize it, but Kathy is still teaching after all those years, and we all benefit from her lessons of kindess.

 

 

 

Sweetser volunteer Philip Moskowitz has been assisting Volunteer Services with monthly mailings since July of 2003. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Philip and his wife honeymooned in Maine in 1997. After Philip worked as a salesman for an advertising agency and for other companies in New York City, he and his wife spent six months of 2002 in Arkansas-and then decided that Maine is the place for them! In his spare time, Philip likes to paint. Thank you, Philip, for all of your help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marian Railton has been a clerical assistant for Sweetser's Volunteer Services since February of 2004, and received a Governor's Service Roll of Honor Award for giving more than 500 hours of services in 2004. "Of all the places I've lived, Maine is the best," says Marian, who was raised in Georgia. She lives with her 11-year-old son and likes to read, cross-stitch, and spend time with her family. Marian's willingness to help and gracious smile have endeared her to everyone at Sweetser. Thank you, Marian!

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Bickford, Mentor, Saco