WHEREAS, Maine Responds is a public health emergency preparedness and response group which functions as the State of Maine's Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals; and

WHEREAS, since 2008, Maine Responds volunteers have assisted communities across Maine with needed public health supports for incidents such as vaccination efforts, sudden refugee influxes, spiritual and behavioral health support during and after disasters, and community preparedness and response activities during natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and ice storms; and

WHEREAS, Maine Responds has provided critical support to the Maine CDC and people of Maine since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing volunteers to fill roles in vaccine and testing clinics, offering guidance on how citizens can best protect themselves, providing the latest information on testing and vaccinations, and more; and

WHEREAS, a total of 695 Maine Responds volunteers have provided more than 41,448 volunteer hours in support of the Maine CDC's COVID-19 public health response activities, completing over 55 missions and 6,941 shifts valued at more than $1.65 million; and

WHEREAS, accessible online at www.Maineresponds.org, Maine Responds is available to help Maine people find the information they need to sign up to become a volunteer;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim April 20, 2023 as

Maine Responds Day

Throughout the State of Maine, and I urge all Maine people to recognize the dedicated volunteers at Maine Responds for their efficient and effective response to the many calls to action to support the public health of the people of our state.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this eleventh day of April Two Thousand Twenty-Three