About MCH

Our Mission

MCH empowers individuals, primarily older adults and people with disabilities, to maintain independent, active lives by providing them access to housing, Meals on Wheels and support services.

Since 1969 MCH’s programs have been providing a critical safety net for some of the communities’ most vulnerable residents.

MCH is a dedicated team of service professionals, drivers, nutritionists, cooks, volunteers, community partners and donors committed to helping older adults and individuals with disabilities maintain their independence for as long as possible.

Our History

The Methodist Conference Home began as the dream of Maine Methodists, who were concerned about the welfare of senior citizens in Maine, and particularly about housing for retired ministers and their spouses. As the idea evolved, the focus broadened to include meeting the needs of any senior citizen to help maximize their self-sufficiency. “The intent of services is always to supplement a person’s own energy and resources, rather than to supplant them,” states the original bylaws that still guide MCH’s mission today.

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HISTORY OF MCH

MCH Leadership & Staff

Elisabeth Schuh
Executive Director

Elisabeth Schuh Bio

Liz feels strongly in the MCH mission of empowering individuals to maintain their independence, in MCH housing facilities and in the greater Knox County community. As Executive Director, she leads the teams which provide essential services in the mid-coast: MCH Housing, MCH Support Services and MCH Nutrition programs, including Knox County Meals on Wheels.

Liz brings almost twenty years of senior level non-profit management to her role, having served as both Housing Director and Finance Director at MCH in addition to other non-profit organizations. She earned Bachelors’ degrees in English and Business from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

Email
207-596-6477

Sue diRosario
Director of Support Services

Sue diRosario Bio

The purpose of Sue’s role is to help residents of MCH live their lives as independently as possible with the support of available meals, housekeeping, home health and nursing services, case management, and transportation coordination. In the community, MCH also provides the Knox County Meals on Wheels Program helping people to remain in their homes with hot, nutritious meals delivered to their door by dedicated volunteers.

Sue began the first seven years of her career in housing and congregate services at a private housing agency and a public housing authority followed by ten years in housing, planning and development at an area agency on aging including the development of five congregate housing services locations, twenty-one years in healthcare community relations, education and philanthropy, and the last several years as development director of a social service agency. She joined MCH in 2016. Sue is an alumna of the University of Maine at Orono for her undergraduate and graduate work. She is also a graduate of Leadership Maine’s Mu class.

Email
207-594-6477

Barbara F. Balduman
Director of Housing

Barbara F. Balduman Bio

As Housing Director, Barbara is committed to ensuring safe and healthy living environments and homes for all residents while staying abreast of Federal and state regulations and policies. A bachelor’s degree in Economics and a minor in Government from the University of Maryland and a twelve-year stint on Capitol Hill for an education lobby group have provided Barbara with a strong foundation in policies and procedures. After 12 years and finally realizing that she wouldn’t be able to change the legislative process, she switched gears and found her passions: real estate, construction and homes by working for a large national builder, a regional builder and a family-owned custom builder; Barbara enjoys all aspects of the home-building process and has been a licensed realtor since 2012 As a campaign director for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and as the director of enrollment management for two independent schools, Barbara added important skills to her tool kit – all of which will enable her to better serve the residents and the surrounding community.

Barbara relocated to Mid-Coast Maine in 2021 to live in and refurbish an antique home and she continues to practice real estate, works in a family-owned retail business and this past summer, was a tour guide in Rockland sharing a bit of history and good food with people from all over the country. In her spare time, Barbara loves to run, hike, bake, read, garden and volunteer and is on a quest to save the honey bees!

Email
207-594-1172