Into the Light: Midcoast eateries join in effort to shine light on domestic abuse

Published in The Courier Gazette

July 11, 2024

CAMDEN — The Midcoast Maine sunburst just got brighter with 35 Camden shops adding yellow to the “Into the Light!” Finding Our Voices Foodie Festival. The festival features 62 eateries across 15 Midcoast towns featuring yellow food and drink menu items with all or part of the proceeds going to Finding Our Voices and Maine’s domestic abuse survivors.

Adam Mills with the “Into the Light!” offering from The Only Doughnut in a selfie makes that makes him eligible for the event’s raffle.

The second annual month-long festival is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the grassroots nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine.

Yellow dog toys, yellow binoculars, and $60 worth of yellow candy are just some of the store items filling gift baskets for a raffle that is a central part of the event. Uploading a Selfie with a purchased “Into the Light!” food or drink counts as one raffle ticket, and folks are encouraged to try the creative yellow offerings at multiple eateries for more taste sensations and more chances to win a bounty of yellow gift items. Winners for the raffle will be drawn in early August.

“Into the Light!” menu items include the curry noodle soup at Long Grain, lemon blueberry creme brûlée at Thomaston Cafe, pineapple coconut scones at The Scone Goddess, yellow raspberry jam at Hubbard’s Farm at the Camden Farmer’s Market, and a lemongrass cocktail at Skal on Vinalhaven.

Eliza Massey with dog toys from The Maine Dog for the “Into the Light!” pet gift basket that can be won with an uploaded selfile in the event’s raffle. Loyal Biscuit contribled $100 worth of yellow cat and dog toys and snacks to the pet gift basket.   
Photo by Patrisha McLean

Non-eatery businesses with yellow items also eligible for the raffle include Glendarragh Lavender with yellow scarves, Lily Lupine and Fern with bottles of yellow-label wine from a woman-owned winery, Seasons Downeast Designs with yellow flower bouquets, and Barnswallow Books donating 100 percent of sales of all yellow books. Windsor Chairmakers in Lincolnville is conducting its own in-house raffle with $20 for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind bright yellow swayback armchair valued at $1,400.

Patrisha McLean, CEO and founder of Finding Our Voices and a 29-year survivor of domestic abuse said, “This is a stunning outpouring of love from the Midcoast business community for women who have been isolated and made to feel like no one cares about them. By donating yellow items to our event, businesses are opening everyone’s eyes to the domestic abuse all around us, and bringing comfort and safety to countless women and children way beyond the time frame of the festival. The businesses are also providing a great reason for people from all over the state to visit the Midcoast in July. Many of the items including Yellow Rose and Ruby Chocolate gelato at Freya’s are only available for the festival, and folks can know that with every “Into the Light!” bite, sip, and purchase they are brightening the lives of the far too many domestic abuse victims in our midst.”

Candy Benoit and family with the “Into the Light!” Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake at Delvino’s. Photo by Candy Benoit

First National Bank is the lead sponsor of the 2024 “Into the Light!” Finding Our Voices Foodie Festival. Amplifying sponsors are Lucinda Watson, Dirigo Law Group, Borden Cottage, Viking Lumber, Rickey Celentano, Liv Rockefeller and Ken Shure, The Tailored Closet, Superior Restoration, Hay Runner, Camden Real Estate, Cold Mountain Builders, Eastern Tire, 105.5 The Wolf and Frank FM.

For more information about “Into the Light!” including names of the 100 participating businesses and their yellow offerings and how to enter the raffle visit findingourvoices.net/into-the-light. More information about Finding Our Voices is at findingourvoices.net.