Our History

In 2016, The Tenants Harbor General Store went up for sale, and the Port Clyde General Store was closed for the winter. Residents Margot and Rob Kelley began to worry what would happen if both store were closed in the winter—or, worse, if one or both closed permanently. The Kelleys had full-time jobs and no background in retail; they couldn’t personally buy and run a store. But they had lots of experience with non-profit organizations and with bringing people together to solve problems. Margot had been on the Town Education Committee, the group that shepherded the Saint George School’s transition out of RSU 13. She was deeply inspired by the community’s determination to make sure local students would have great educational opportunities. She and Rob thought people would do the same to make sure other needs were also addressed. For about six months, they met with many, many community members to learn what other folks thought Saint George needed. People expressed concerns about rising costs for housing, limited opportunities to work on the peninsula, changes in the fisheries, the lack of public transportation, the distance to health care facilities, and more. 

In 2017, the Kelleys created the StGCDC, invited community members from the different villages to be board members, and applied for non-profit status from the federal government. When the StGCDC received non-profit status that September, the board hired Alane Kennedy as Program Manager and recommended that a committee consider creating a food pantry. The committee named it the Community Cupboard, and Dale Pierson, one of the committee members, built all the shelving for the Cupboard and donated produce from his huge garden. Others donated refrigerators, freezers, and food.

From 2017 until 2020 (when COVID hit), an advisory committee met quarterly to discuss programming. These meetings were open to the public and anyone could propose a new program. If it fit within one of the “five pillars” of the organization (housing access, educational access, health & well-being, community development, economic development), and if someone volunteered to take point, a group would come together to make it happen and the StGCDC would provide money to cover expenses. Among these programs were a town-wide Thanksgiving Dinner, Holiday gift support, a Community Garden at the library, and many more. As Program Manager, Alane helped coordinate these efforts, as well as providing clients with support getting Maine Care, requesting hardship assistance, and connecting with sources of aid in the region.  

During COVID, the StGCDC brought together local leaders for a weekly Zoom meeting; the group shared current information and best practices to keep people as safe as possible. One bright spot from that era was creating the holiday “Light Up Saint George” program, which has since been adopted by the Saint George Business Alliance. In the wake of COVID, the organization has continued to grow. The many volunteers who staff and often run the organization’s programs are now the StGCDC’s heart and soul. Some programs, like the Night Kitchen, became so popular with volunteers that the cooking slots filled within minutes of being announced. Thanksgiving Dinner weathered the pandemic and remains beloved. Newer programs, like the Wood Chuckers and Welcome Lil’ Dragons, have been added to the roster. While some programs are highly visible, others are less easy to see—but no less important. The Broadband committee worked for years to get better internet service for every household. Similarly, the housing committee has been working almost since the beginning of the StGCDC to improve housing affordability. They accepted a gift of nearly 30 acres of land in 2024 and hope to break ground on a new neighborhood, Brookside, in 2026.  

Also in 2024, the StGCDC established an endowment fund that’s managed by Maine Community Foundation and hired a full-time director for the Community Cupboard. In 2025, we hired a part-time Executive Director and full-time Operations Manager. We’re now embarking on a collaboration with the Grace Innovation Center and Saint George EMS to expand telehealth opportunities to area residents. Thanks to a dedicated board, great staff, wonderful volunteers, and generous donors, the StGCDC helps build resilience and improve well-being for folks who live on this beautiful, community-minded peninsula.