LETTERS: Nominations for awards open

To the editor:

With so many older Mainers making a difference in our communities every day, AARP Maine is proud to once again honor one outstanding individual through the annual Andrus Award for Community Service. I’m writing to encourage Mainers to nominate someone age 50 or older who has gone above and beyond in serving others. The nomination deadline is July 15, 2025.

This award is AARP’s most prestigious volunteer honor and is named after Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus who founded AARP at age 73. It celebrates people whose selfless work has improved lives and inspired those around them. Nominees do not have to be AARP members or volunteers; they just need to live in Maine and have made a meaningful impact through unpaid service.

As a volunteer myself, I’ve met so many people who give their time quietly, never asking for recognition. Whether delivering meals, mentoring youth, helping neighbors age safely at home, or running community programs, their acts of kindness often go unnoticed. That’s why this award matters, and it shines a light on those who lead with heart and action.

Last year’s recipient, Pamela Partridge, of North Anson, is a perfect example. She is a retired educator who continues to give back, improving lives and inspiring others long after retirement. I believe there are many more Mainers like her, and they deserve to be seen and celebrated.

If you know someone who you feel would be worthy of this award, please take a few moments today to nominate them. Details and nomination forms are available at www.aarp.org/andrusaward.

Let’s celebrate the people who make Maine a better, stronger, and more compassionate place for all of us.

Dr. Erica Magnus
AARP Maine, Communications Volunteer
Windham