THE GATHERINGS
The Gatherings is a non-profit community center in the heart of Surry, Maine. It is run entirely by volunteers and welcomes you to use the space.
HISTORY
A group of approximately thirty Surry residents came together with a core group of 10 – 12 meeting and then 5 – 6 every week or two since the late spring of 2014 to discuss our shared interest in developing and maintaining a vibrant multi-use community center. The town of Surry then had no such place and community activities were dependent upon space in the local school when was available or historic buildings that were not winterized and / or lacked plumbing and /or would require major structural renovations. The Gatherings incorporated as a nonprofit and received 501c3 tax-exempt status in 2015. After considering the renovation of historic buildings in town or building something from scratch, the group determined that those options would require more time and money than was feasible and that needs would be best met by purchasing the property that previously housed the Blue Moon Gallery, as it could accommodate a variety of uses and is centrally located in Surry Village. The property was purchased in October 2015 and renovations to the ground floor were supported by Tradewinds Marketplace in Blue Hill and a local family. The grand-opening of the ground floor was the following spring in May 2016. With support from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the second floor was also renovated to open in 2018.