PORTLAND, Maine —
Shalom House, a community-based mental health provider, now has a new hope garden. In partnership with the national Yellow Tulip Project, 250 tulip bulbs were planted Thursday in the lawn of Shalom House’s residential property on Clark Street.
Emily Mitchell, the development and communications manager, explained, “This is a highly supportive housing property for adults living with severe mental illnesses, with 24-hour staff support for individuals who need rehabilitative and intensive support services. This is a long-term program that offers a home-like environment with extensive skill-building opportunities.”
The planting event fell during national Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is observed annually during the first full week of October. Shalom House staff intend for the garden to spark positivity and inspiration for the residents when it blooms in the spring.
Executive director Abby Spadone said, “We have a lot of clients who really struggle with severe and persistent mental illness. On a day-to-day basis, it’s really hard for them to have hope just for recovery, so a big part of what we do is just hold some of that hope for the clients that we have.”
Spadone was joined in the garden by board members and other staff, but noticeably missing was Marlene McNeill, a program manager killed by a resident in May 2026 at a Shalom House property on Woodford Street. McNeill was described by Shalom House as kind, compassionate, deeply respected, and an irreplaceable part of the organization.
During a break from planting, Spadone said, “We’ve had a rough year this year, and to bring people together to do something that is just a vein of positivity is a really nice thing to do.”
She went on to say they look forward to planting more of these hope gardens at their other properties throughout the city, and she encourages other groups to do the same.