Helping Hands of Round Pond
Overview
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Helping Hands is a non-profit organization working to serve the community of the Town of Bristol, primarily focusing on the Village of Round Pond, through outreach, social events, and educational programming.​ What began in the late 1960s continues today. Helping Hands is committed to bringing the community together and helping each other when needed. ​​
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While some of our work is very public such as our Spring Road Clean-up, Summer Ice Cream Social, and Community Coffee; sometimes our work is quiet and out of view providing support to community members who may suddenly find themselves in an unexpected pinch.
In 2021, Helping Hands acquired the white church on the hill, now called the Round Pond Meetinghouse. It will be a space for the community to gather for social functions, educational and family functions as well as non-denominational services. The Meetinghouse is in need of extensive repairs, and thanks to grants and donations, some repairs have already been completed. Major work is needed inside the building and fundraising continues.
Meet Our Leadership
Board Members
Board members are the governing body of Helping Hands and oversee the organization by providing strategic direction. They are primarily tasked with running business operations for the
Helping Hands organization.
Nancy Evans
President
Nancy is an educator, scholar, and advocate for the humanities who comes to the Board of Helping Hands with over 30 years of experience in higher education, both in the class-room as a professor and in administrative and advisory roles. Her programming leadership and professional networks in Mediterranean history led her to co-found a nonprofit with international reach. Nancy spent her early childhood summers in Round Pond until her family moved here and became year-round residents. Nancy loves to learn from the past, and is committed to bringing the best of the past and reimagining it to serve the common good in the future.
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Jody McKenzie Harris
Vice-President
Jody had a career in the non-profit sector, experience which she now applies by volunteering for Helping Hands, and the Board of Old Bristol Historical Society as Secretary. Jody grew up on the coast of Massachusetts; she later lived and raised her family in a rural Berkshire hilltown. However, she longed to be back on the New England coast and made a move 17 years ago to the mid-coast. Jody resides in Round Pond and loves the strong sense of community within this small coastal village. This is where she met and married her husband, Bob. She enjoys hiking; kayaking along the shore and coastal islands; exploring the state of Maine; gardening. and time creating in her studio, Botanical Shades Fiberarts.
Beth Billick
Secretary
Beth came to Round Pond with her family in the summer of 2002 and returned each season for several weeks until they purchased a home in 2008. She led a successful campaign with a group of dedicated Round Ponders to preserve the Lupine Field in 2015. Although she and her husband maintain an additional residence in Tenants Harbor, she continues to want to give back to a community she feels very connected to. Beth serves as Secretary on the board and is also on the
Building Committee.
Rachel Goodrich
Treasurer
Rachel graduated from Bates College with a BA in Economics and worked for Bank of America and Berkshire Bank for over 25 years in Commercial Lending, supporting teams throughout New England. In a nutshell, she loves a spreadsheet! Rachel has been coming to the house she currently owns in Round Pond since she was 4 - a very long time ago! Prior to moving to Round Pond full time in 2023, she lived in Sudbury, MA where she served on the boards of HOPEsudbury, Sudbury Military Support Network and the Sudbury September 11th Memorial Garden Oversight Committee. Rachel enjoys traveling, cooking, learning new things, construction projects and spending time with her partner Steve, friends and family.
Debbie Poland
Member-at-Large
Debbie is originally from Sheepscot. She moved to Round Pond in 1984 after marrying Peter Poland. Their first home was in the bridge house on the Back Shore Road. Their two sons Andrew and Mathew also live in Round Pond. Debbie recently retired from teaching at Nobleboro School. Debbie explains that "One summer in the late 80s, Fran Russell asked me to make a pie for a Helping Hands community supper. This led to becoming the pie cutter, then the HH treasurer and now I am a member of the HH board."
Community Support Chairs
The Community Support Committee is the heart of the Helping Hands Organization. Our volunteers provide support to fellow villagers during times when they might need a bit of help. In addition, volunteers organize fundraisers – proceeds are used to provide support to the Round Pond/Bristol community.
Chris Bennett
Co-Chair
Chris's husband’s family has been coming to Round Pond for over 50 years. As she says, "I was introduced to this lovely village 15 years ago and now we live here with our 2 cats 6 months of the year. We live in Portland ME the other half of the year. I find the care and concern of the Round Pond villagers very heartwarming." Chris practiced pediatrics for 30 years in Portland and now that she is retired, she enjoys volunteering along with gardening, playing pickleball and taking many walks. "I am happy to have joined Helping Hands to be further involved in this community of caring."
Rebecca Recor
Co-Chair
Becky always knew she would end up in Maine. After a career teaching middle school in a Chicago suburb, her dream came true. She was introduced to Helping Hands 25 years ago when she was asked to bake pies, “Not cookies or cakes! Mainers eat pie!” for the community suppers. Becky also helps organize the Round Pond Schoolhouse Art Show, volunteers at the Miles Thrift Shop, worked with Chats with Champions at Skidompha, coordinated two Women’s Network groups, has served on boards of Miles Hospital League and Heartwood Theater, and loves taking Senior college classes. She also loves serving the community and getting to know wonderful people. In her spare time, Becky can be found gardening, enjoying offerings at Lincoln Theater, exploring other parts of Maine with friends, baking cookies, or curled up with a good book.
Building Committee Chairs
The Building Committee is currently tasked with overseeing the needed renovations to the Meetinghouse.
Bob Harris
Co-Chair
Bob has extensive experience renovating old houses and is right at home with overseeing the Meetinghouse renovations. He resides in Round Pond in an 1880s home that he renovated with his wife Jody. Bob grew up in Nobleboro, graduated from Lincoln Academy, and had a 40 plus year career with CMP. Now retired, he continues to volunteer in many community organizations besides Helping Hands, including Damariscotta Newcastle Lions Club, where he has been involved for over 30 years; and Damariscotta Historical Society. Bob enjoys visiting antique shops and vintage markets, traveling around the state of Maine, hiking, cutting firewood, and building an eclectic cabin in the woods. He is also the creator behind Round Pond Upcycled Art, which he makes from found and collected items.
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Jim Matel
Co-Chair
Jim was fortunate to find Round Pond through his wife of 37 years Sarah Stevenson Matel who grew up in Round Pond. He has been very active in the community opening Round Pond Coffee in 2016 and Peninsula Properties Realty in 2023. Jim also serves on two other local boards, the Round Pond School House Association and the Cabadetis Boat Club. Jim is ready to jump into a project and see what he can do to help it along. In his spare time he enjoys sailing out of Round Pond Harbor, walking the many trails in the Midcoast, and skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain.
