History
The Root Cellar began in the basement (root cellar) of a small Mennonite church in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood of Portland, Maine. A group from the church opened their space one night a week to area teens to provide a safe, loving place where they could occupy their time. The idea took off in popularity and the church quickly began to develop opportunities to reach the whole family. Shortly after establishing the center, that is The Root Cellar, the church hired a part time staff worker, established a board of directors, received 501c3 status and released the work to the general church community and the new leadership. Today, The Root Cellar has locations in both Munjoy Hill in Portland as well as in the heart of Lewiston, Maine. Each location is committed to the work of empowering and equipping the marginalized of each community to help them reach their full potential while loving them the way Jesus taught his church to love.
Specialties
Kids, youth and teen programs, homework help, job assistance, job training, English Classes (ESL), Citizenship Classes, community dinners, women's meetings, Bible studies, dental clinic, adult medical clinic, pediatric medical clinic, clothing program, food co-op, emergency food services, community center, meeting space for rent, refugee services, low income families