Bethel Maine Food Pantry: Feeding Our Communities

It takes a special kind of person to dedicate your time, physical labor, and compassion to help others. Dave and Mary from the Bethel Food Pantry are those special kind of people. Making sure 60-90 families have food on their tables is what they devote a huge part of their lives to.

Our marketing manager, Leanna, and our fabulous receptionist, Jackie, had the chance to volunteer along the Bethel Food Pantry with Dave and Mary last Wednesday. While volunteering, Leanna and Jackie were assembling bags and bags of assorted foods such as: vegetables, fruits, meats, canned goods, diapers, etc. The Bethel Food Pantry thinks of everything! The work they put into this organization is truly amazing. They plan an abundance of meals for families to last them until their next food arrangement. The food pick up is the first and third Wednesday of every month from 9am-2pm. The organization can also arrange for food delivery if needed. What an excellent program to help feed others!

Knowing that there are people in the community looking out for and taking care of others is what makes this small area in Maine so enjoyable to live in. We are lucky to have this resource, and especially lucky for the people who are constantly putting it together. Thank you Dave and Mary for your hard work, it does not go unnoticed.

If you want to find out what you can do to donate, volunteer, or help in anyway, call the Bethel Food Pantry today at (207) 824-0369. You can also go to bethelareafoodpantry.org to donate online.

“Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Year 2: Wheelers Insurance from the Non-Insurance Professional Point of View

A year ago, I wrote my first blog post as Wheelers’ Marketing Manager. Here I am again to give you a whole year’s insight of Wheelers Agency from the non-insurance professional’s point of view AKA… Leanna Bowie.

When I was first being interviewed for my position by then strangers, now my coworkers, they asked me, “How can an artistic person like you become passionate about insurance, a seemingly ‘boring’ and intangible product?” I responded that it’s not quite about the insurance itself to have a passion for, but more so the community around us. I wanted to be a part of something that helped others, and that’s what Wheelers Insurance does every day. Whether it’s helping clients find ways to protect and insure themselves/assets, donating to the community, or volunteering physically when needed, Wheelers Insurance itself is a family that will never stop giving back.

I could sit here all day to say how we have grown business wise, but that’s not what I want you to leave with here today. I want you to know my coworkers love helping you. They are not just insurance agents; they are humans – just like you. Here is a recap of what I saw from my coworkers in 2021:

I watched Michele Lowell become a Grammy for the third time (Special thanks to Cait, those are OUR grand babies now too!), and I watched as she used her own money to put warm clothes on another person’s back who needed it. She helps others whenever she can, she is the work mama everyone needs in their lives.

I watched as Crystal passionately spent hours and hours baking cookies and collecting snacks for her nonprofit that she created own her own [Bites4Blue] to help local police officers feel appreciated, loved, and taken care of.

I watched both Becky & Hannah get their property & casualty licenses after months of anxious studying, thus making them the confident and helpful agents we are so lucky to have.

I watched as we hired Jane & Jackie, two refreshing and lovely additions to our team. The warmth of their kindness spreads through us all every day.

I watched as Diane was finally able to take a few weeks off from work to live her very best life. A road trip across the country with her husband and son, Max. I hope her future is filled with many more well-deserved road trips – we can handle everything in the office from here, Diane!

I watched Michelle Walker become one of the most compassionate and loyal co-workers someone could have. She is the human definition of trust. She is now our CEO!

I watched Scott school all of us in golf with his son-in-law. The most important things to him in life are his family and sports… So, I guess we never really had a chance to begin with.

I watched as Mike and his family joyfully welcomed their sweet fur baby, Remy, a black lab. Dogs really soften you up, huh, Mike? Mike also has helped guide all of us into an employee-owned business and taught us how to work together, while also individually being leaders.

I watched Cathy, the Insurance Legend, take Becky under her wing to manifest another little Insurance Legend. She is an amazing mentor. She is also really loud. We had to design/build her her own little office out back last summer. We love you as much as you love your Diet Cokes, Cathy.

As for myself, I watched myself grow. Anyone who knows me personally knows I am overly empathetic and sensitive. My coworkers took me under their wings and have filled me with the confidence and abilities to believe in myself. They watched me buy my first home and they came to my wedding. I appreciate my work family more than words can describe.

At the end of the day, when you go looking for insurance, look for the company that invests back into the community. We all grew up here, and are ready to take care of you and your families. Support local. It makes all the difference for you and for us. We appreciate you all.

Here’s to 2022!! Let’s have a wonderful year with our wonderful community.

Medicare Talk With Mike

By now, you’ve surely seen Joe Namath, William Shatner and Jimmie Walker on TV lately pushing Medicare Advantage plans? These guys got famous young for doing stuff that has nothing to do with healthcare, so you may want to think twice before believing anything they have to say about Medicare Advantage plans.

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