LEWISTON, ME (October 5, 2022) — Safe Voices will honor Sheila Barnies of Lewiston as one of four awardees at the agency’s Fall Mixer and Awards Ceremony on October 20. Barnies will receive the agency’s Volunteer Service Award for her “caretaking of the caretakers” at Safe Voices. 

Barnies – known as “Auntie” to most Safe Voices staff – supports the agency in myriad unexpected ways, from handknit blankets that she has donated to shelter and safe house residents since 2018 (and that also adorn several staff offices), to deliveries of homemade baked goods to nourish advocates during their work, to being a vocal supporter of Safe Voices and encouraging others to do the same. Barnies is a model in how everyone can engage with community service in a way that works for them. 

“The Barnies family is incredible,” says Director of Advocacy, Intervention, and Prevention Rebecca Austin. “And Sheila is no exception. She is this amazing behind-the-scenes force, showing up with love and empathy to support the people who do advocacy work every day. We are so honored by her commitment to us.” 

Barnies is a lifelong Lewiston resident with deep community ties. She graduated from Lewiston High School and worked for many years at Central Maine Medical Center, retiring in 2019.  

Additional awardees at the event include Androscoggin Bank receiving the Community Partner Award, Kayla Duvall of Madison receiving the Shining Star Staff Award, and Dovetail Consulting, LLC’s Andy Jackson of Portland receiving the Kimberley Wilson Community Transformation Award.   

For more information about the Safe Voices Fall Mixer, please contact Grace Kendall at gkendall@safevoices.org or visit bit.ly/SVmixer for tickets.