Victor Grange improving, expanding, and welcomes community members

PHOTO: Victor Grange, 142 Oakland Road, Fairfield, is an important fixture of the community. (Submitted photo)

FAIRFIELD – You may wonder, when you drive by Victor Grange, 142 Oakland Road, “Just what is a Grange, anyway?”
A Grange is a community service, agriculture-rooted, family encompassing community organization focused on education, awareness and health, fun, food, veterans, crafts and much more. Grange halls are used for community events, markets, meals, classes, clinics, community forums, dances and concerts, and can even be rented by the public. Grange is non-partisan, non-sectarian and has always treated women equally.
Victor Grange 49 is proud to continue its service to the central Maine community. It is thriving, improving and expanding services. In the last several years, through many fundraisers, Victor Grange has improved the building and its operations. The attic has been cleaned and insulated, the downstairs floor was restored, and a new heating system was installed, allowing it to stay open year-round.
More than 6,000 people have come through Victor Grange’s doors over the past year. It’s been used as a community resource by many groups, as well as for birthday, anniversary, graduation parties and celebrations of life. The senior program reached the 20-year mark last August, and includes a free monthly dinner and social time. A local homeschool group assists at the dinners and other projects. Plans are to open the hall on Mondays for an all-ages game day.
On March 31, a benefit supper was held at Victor Grange for a local family whose home burned, with more than $5,200 raised.
There are now plans to become a warming center for people to come to when people lose power. The hall can accommodate a lot of people and has a full kitchen. To do this effectively, a stand-by generating system must be installed. The Grange is asking the town for $10,000 in support of the effort, which will be voted on at 7 p.m. Monday, May 8, at town meeting.
The Grange is also looking for community ideas, as well as volunteers to help with events. Membership dues are $27 a year, with meetings held at 5:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month. A potluck supper is followed by the 6 p.m. meeting. Members are involved with all decision making, and it’s not necessary for anyone to attend every meeting. All are welcome.
For those who want to be involved, but not a member, there is Friends of the Grange, whose members can be called on for food or to help with events.
The Grange’s motto is: “The Grange was built by the community, for the community, to meet the needs of the community.”