The Courageous Steps Project's third annual back-to-school drive campaign is ahead of schedule this year according to founder Connor Archer. 

Archer says that over 992 items of school supplies have been purchased. Some of those 992 items contain packages of items. The founder says with this drive coming up, and the bins around at certain locations through Friday August 12th, the outcome could allow more schools to benefit in the Eastern Maine region this year. 

Archer will be going around neighborhoods in the Old Town & Orono area along with surrounding communities to support the drive, and will be sending numerous emails to other community members to get involved. 

On Thursday, if you can't donate supplies, just stop by at Governor's Restaurant in Old Town and make a generous donation, and grab a quick ice cream cone for $1.99. Proceeds from the ice cream booth will benefit the back-to-school drive. Supplies will be sorted a week after the drive, and delivered to schools soon after. 

You can also donate supplies before then, and after the drive by dropping your supplies off at one of our following bin locations: Old Town Recreation Center, Old Town Public Library, Orono Public Library, Old Town Orono YMCA, Bangor Savings Bank (Old Town & Orono branches), Penobscot County Federal Credit Union (Old Town), the Green House Nursery School, and Governor's Restaurant from now until Friday August 5th. The rest of the bins will be at those locations until Friday August 12th. 

If you have any other questions about the back-to-school drive, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

The Courageous Steps Project founder, and soon to be CEO, Connor Archer, has a big task ahead of him. Since 2015, Connor has drafted mission statements, bylaws, and other policies for The Courageous Steps Project, INC. The non-profit organization will be soon formed with a  board of directors. 

This new title will give our organization opportunities unlike ever before. We will be able to file grants and award them to organizations in need. We will be able to gain more businesses for a sponsorship allowing us to give more donations out. We will also be able to get more support for projects that are crucial for our organization. With this status, opportunities will open up for our organization. 

With that, comes a big responsibility. The founder, and CEO has been working day and night to create these important documents for the organization, and creating the future plans for the organization. 

Archer wants us to stay tuned to any upcoming changes and events that occur within this process. If you have any questions, or want to find out more, you can email Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

Usually the Courageous Steps Project has asked schools to accept 'One Word' Challenges. This time, founder and CEO Connor Archer tried something different. He expanded his challenge to summer camps in the area. 

One of those camps, was the Rad O Camp, sponsored by the Orono Parks & Recreation and the University of Maine Campus of Recreation, where the actual camp is held. 

Thirty children participated, along with staff members. This makes this camp the 5th school/organization to accept the 'One Word' Challenge. 

The hope is to start 'One Word' back up this fall with participating schools already interested. 

If you are a school administrator, and you want to participate in the 'One Word' Challenge, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

Recently, the Courageous Steps Project partnered with Jess Hewes of Thirty One, to do a catalog fundraiser from Monday August 1st through Wednesday August 10th. 

20-25% of the sales from this catalog fundraiser will benefit Courageous Steps endeavors. 


Here are some ways that you can get involved:

1.) You can get a catalog from Connor Archer. Just email him at: [email protected]. 

2.) You can visit www.mythirtyone.com/jbhewes, and find our fundraising link: The Courageous Steps Project. Your order won't go through until the fundraiser is complete on August 10th, but you are welcome to order anytime during that period. 

3.) You can visit the Brewer Dunkin Donuts on Monday August 8th from 5:30pm to 8pm. Jess Hewes will have items out on a table in their conference room, and she will be able to place orders there at that time. 

4.) You can also also host a party until September 30th. Just contact Jess Hewes at: [email protected]. You will receive hostess rewards, and 10% of proceeds from your party will benefit Courageous Steps endeavors. 

Catalogs will be available on Thursday August 4th during the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Back-To-School Drive, and on Tuesday August 9th at the Courageous Steps Benefit Dinner held at the Old Town Governor's Restaurant. 

A flyer is below this description, and please contact Connor Archer for any questions. 

We have some packages that are still available for grabs. 

One of our packages is an American Concrete Industries $100.00 Gift Certificate. We are selling this item for $50.00. So if you are thinking of redoing your front steps, or want to simply do another small job, then this item is for you. 

We also have nine Papa John's Pizza coupons that are up for grabs. These coupons are usable until December 31st, 2017. This would be a great gift for an Athletic Director who wants to give prizes away to an Athlete of the Month. 

If you are interested in any of these items, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

We also have t-shirts that are for sale, at a lower price of $5.00. Please contact Connor Archer ([email protected]) if you are interested. 

On Tuesday August 9th, the Courageous Steps Project will be hosting a benefit dinner once again at Governor's Restaurant in Old Town, from 4pm to 8pm. 

Ten percent of the proceeds go towards the project. 

The past two benefit dinners have made around $1,000 for the project, which has primarily gone to the scholarship fund, charitable giving fund, and other Courageous Steps endeavors if needed. 

T-shirts will be for sale at $5 each. We also encourage donations throughout the night. Bins will be at all tables during the hours of 4pm to 8pm. 

If you have any questions, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

On Monday July 18th, bins will be at the following locations for the Courageous Steps Back-To-School Drive:

Old Town Public Library
Old Town Recreation Center
Old Town Orono YMCA
Green House Nursery School
Hannaford SuperMarkets
Bangor Savings Bank (Old Town & Orono branches)
Penobscot County Federal Credit Union
Governor's Restaurant (July 28th-August 5th)

As seen in the picture above, supplies are already being purchased for the 3rd annual drive being held on Thursday August 4th. We are hoping donations continue to come in, so we can make more of these trips down to local stores to take advantage of those back-to-school deals. 

We have also partnered with the Old Town Recreation Center for the second year in a row, to allow their leader's group to take a couple hours to help the us during our back-to-school drive direct people to Governors, collect supplies, and to gain experience of how a big fundraiser is ran. 

Many other local businesses in the region have donated gift cards to be used for purchasing school supplies as well. We are aiming for more business support in the coming weeks for this drive. 

If you have any questions about this year's drive, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

The Courageous Steps Project's summer season is well underway, as the project is preparing for it's 3rd annual back-to-school drive happening on Thursday August 4th, and a benefit dinner at the Old Town Governor's Restaurant on Tuesday August 9th. 

Before then, the project will be doing lots of other stuff including raising funds for the scholarship fund & charitable giving fund, working on a storage shed project at the Green House Nursery School, and growing the project structurally. 

"At this point, I am taking a step back and looking at ways we can strengthen the organization structurally, so it can continue to perform at a higher standard" said founder Connor Archer recently. 

Some of the futuristic goals for the project include forming an official non-profit organization, with a board of directors, and tax-exempt status. This is important when getting grants, more corporate businesses to donate items and sponsor events, and so we can use every penny possible for the project. 

"For right now, it is my focus on the two fundraisers this summer, and getting the organization to it's non-profit status" said Archer. "But this is an important step in strengthening the core of the project, and I know it will move our organization forward in the right direction" added Archer.