BELFAST, Maine — Twenty-five years ago, Ray and Patricia Estabrook founded "The Game Loft" in downtown Belfast to give kids in the community a place to feel seen.
On Saturday, the Estabrooks will retire after nearly three decades of embracing kids to reach their full potential. Fortunately, their retirement doesn't mean "game over."
At the end of the week, they'll pass their executive director roles to some of the organization's board members.
"Frankly, I believe this is what we were called to do. This wasn't quite on the goals we had 25 years ago. This wasn't really our life plan, but sometimes your life plan has to be put aside, and you have to do what you were called to do," Ray said.
The Estabrooks opened the space to help local kids overcome social, rural, and technological isolation. The space helps kids who may not have found their knack in athletics or in theater, a place to engage with others and find their community.
"Kids say, 'I finally found my tribe. I didn't know who I was before I came here, and now I feel like I'm a part of a group,'" Patricia said.
The Game Loft serves about 25 kids and teens per day, providing programs promoting community involvement, volunteering, and mentoring. Anyone who walks through its doors is also eligible for a free meal and snack as part of its soup kitchen program.
The Game Loft also meets transportation needs as any kid in a 20-mile radius can be picked up after school by a Game Loft van and dropped off later that evening.
"Kids come here to play games. They discover it's a lot more than just that," Ray said. "It's been our privilege over 25 years to be able to serve kids in the community because that's what we're here to do, and that's what's important to do for changing people's lives for the better," Patricia said.
The Game Loft also has a sister program, I Know ME, that runs in the Mount View school system. It gives students the opportunity to visit state parks and learn about Maine's history.
Although the Estabrooks are stepping down as executive directors, they're planning on staying near to see where The Game Loft leads in the years to come.
"We're gonna retire from parents of the game loft to maybe grandparents of the Game Loft. We're looking forward to that role," Ray said.