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Across MDI, Residents Found Simple Ways to Make a Difference.

Shovels, Seedlings, and Soccer Cleats: Community Spirit on Display Across MDI.

Carrie Jones

Jun 18, 2026

An elderly woman wearing a straw hat and a blue apron is talking animatedly among plants at a garden or market setting.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission.

Graphic announcing the Sunbeam Award Gala on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Bar Harbor Club, featuring nautical designs and a 'Save the Date' message.

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—On a spring weekend across Mount Desert Island, residents gathered to spread fresh mulch beneath a playground in Town Hill, browse perennials and herbs at a Bar Harbor church plant sale, and trade gently used sports equipment at a Northeast Harbor library—three events that highlighted the ways community members come together to support each other and the places they call home.

Though each event had a different purpose, all shared a common goal: strengthening the community while encouraging reuse, volunteerism, and stewardship.

From raising money for conservation efforts to giving old gear a second life and creating safer places for children to play, the gatherings offered a reminder that small acts by many people can have an outsized impact.

Whether with shovels, seedlings, or secondhand soccer cleats, Mount Desert Island residents found ways to give back this spring.

TOWN HILL PLAYGROUND

Fresh mulch flew from wheelbarrows in Town Hill as volunteers worked to spruce up a playground.

An elderly man wearing a hat is tilting a wheelbarrow filled with mulch at a playground, surrounded by green trees and playground equipment.
A green tractor with a front loader is parked on a road next to a large pile of wood chips, with playground equipment visible in the background.
A child with a wide-brimmed hat shoveling wood chips into a wheelbarrow on a sunny day.

The clean-up was organized by the Town Hill Village Improvement Society.

Shaiah Emigh-Doyle brought over her compact tractor and she and Andrew Gervais stayed until late afternoon helping get all the mulch—which had been provided by the town—into the playground.

“100 yards was more than was needed,” said VIA President Perry Moore. “Several of us noticed Saturday that the pile of mulch in the parking lot seemed to be where kids were playing instead of the actual playground, Andrew built mounds out of the extra inside the playground. The total weight of that was around 25 tons, so it was no small feat.”

Brent Hamor, Jim Perkins, Tim and Rebecca LaFleur and their son, Randy Sprague, Liz Graves and her son, and others helped throughout the day.

In the raffle Rebecaa LaFleur won the Mother’s Kitchen card and Jim Perkins won the Salsbury Farms card.

Two individuals working together at a playground, one using a rake while the other inspects the play structure.
A man wearing a pink shirt and a green cap is looking down while pushing a wheelbarrow in a sunny outdoor setting. He is wearing gloves and appears to be engaged in yard work or landscaping.
Two older men conversing outdoors, one holding red tape and a glass, with a swingset in the background.
A young person wearing a gray shirt and orange cap rakes wood chips in a yard with two green playhouses and greenery in the background.
A group of four people interacting in a park setting, with a child in a sun hat talking to a man squatting on the ground. A woman in a black long-sleeve shirt stands nearby holding a rake, and an older man with glasses is holding a roll of tape while standing next to a trash can and a cooler.
A man shoveling mulch into a wheelbarrow near a portable toilet in a park setting.
A man pushing a wheelbarrow filled with mulch, surrounded by greenery and flowers in a suburban setting.
A young person in a green hoodie and shorts using a rake to tend to a playground area covered in wood chips, with a slide visible in the background.
A woman drives a green tractor at a playground, using the front loader to move wood chips, with playground equipment visible in the background.
A person wearing a sun hat and sunglasses is raking wood chips at a playground, with play equipment in the background.
A group of four people, including two children, working together to move wood chips using wheelbarrows and shovels in a sunny outdoor setting.
Courtesy Liz Graves

THE NORTHEAST HARBOR LIBRARY FREE GEAR AND REPAIR SHOP

And in Northeast Harbor, families sorted through skis, soccer cleats, and baseball gloves, giving used gear a second chance at the Northeast Harbor Library’s annual event, which included free gear repair.

An elderly man with glasses works on a toy truck at a table covered with various tools and materials, while another person sits behind him, engaged in conversation.
A person in a striped referee shirt holding a pair of skis, standing in a room with artwork on the walls.

The event featured tons of donated bikes, skis, and sports equipment and an enthusiastic crowd streaming in during the first hours of the event.

A row of parked bicycles in a bike rack, featuring various styles and colors, including a purple bike with red handlebar grips.
Photos in gallery can be enlarged by clicking on them and are courtesy of Zachary Taibi
A man in a striped shirt holds a ski while various ski equipment, including boots and poles, is displayed on tables.
A row of bicycles parked on green grass next to a sign advertising a free gear and repair cafe, scheduled for June 13 from 9 AM to 1 PM.

BAR HARBOR WILD GARDENS OF ACADIA PLANT SALE

In Bar Harbor, gardeners hunted for new additions to their flower beds while helping support conservation efforts.

Sign announcing a plant sale until noon at St Saviour's Church in Bar Harbor, featuring details about the event and its benefit for Wild Gardens of Acadia.
A woman with wavy hair stands at a table examining potted plants with informational tags in a green garden setting.
An elderly man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a blue jacket sits on a bench, holding a drink and gesturing with his hand.

Friends of Acadia hosted plant lovers and gardeners at the annual Wild Gardens of Acadia Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 13, at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church in Bar Harbor.

According to a press release, “Continuing a decades-long tradition, the plant sale helps support the maintenance and operations of the Wild Gardens of Acadia at Sieur de Monts in Acadia National Park. The gardens display more than 400 native plants across 13 habitats representative of those found throughout the park, making them a unique educational resource for visitors, students, and plant enthusiasts.”

The plants were enthusiastically purchased this year with the stock becoming quickly depleted Saturday and then remainders selling out on Sunday (at discounted prices).

It’s all to support a special part of Acadia.

“The Wild Gardens of Acadia, which celebrates 65 years this year, is a beloved place to learn about the plants and habitats that make Acadia so special,” said Stephanie Clement, vice president of conservation at Friends of Acadia. “This annual sale is a wonderful way for people to support the gardens while bringing home plants that add beauty to their own backyards.”

A variety of potted succulents on a black table, featuring different species labeled with wooden sticks, including aloe and echeveria types.
A vendor's table at a plant market featuring a vibrant hanging basket of red flowers priced at $35, with a man examining potted plants in the background.
A community plant sale featuring a variety of herbs and vegetables, with people browsing and purchasing plants. A woman carries a box of plants while others are selecting from tables filled with potted plants.
A young woman holding a drink and a potted plant interacts with two seated women at a table. One of the seated women is holding a drink, while the other is looking at her phone. The setting appears to be an outdoor area with wooden fencing in the background.
A man holds a box of plants while browsing a table filled with various potted plants at a community plant sale, with several people in the background.

Unless otherwise specified, photos Bar Harbor Story.

Apologies for the latest of this story. We’ve had a lot of hard news this week, which meant this didn’t come out until today.

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