Lift All Boats is teaming up with Luke’s Lobster in Portland, Maine, for a Dine & Donate and raffle night on Tuesday, Oct. 27, raising money to help young fishermen travel to Seattle for the National Future Fishermen’s Summit at the Pacific Marine Expo.
The fundraiser will run from 4 to 9 p.m. at Luke’s Lobster, 60 Portland Pier. A portion of the restaurant’s proceeds during the event will help cover travel, lodging, meals, and conference registration for Lift All Boats students attending the summit. Guests who want their meal to count toward the fundraiser should check in at the Lift All Boats table when they arrive. Raffle tickets featuring prizes donated by local businesses and organizations will also be available.
Lift All Boats, a Maine-based pre-apprenticeship and mentorship program, works to introduce students from non-lobstering backgrounds to the commercial fishing industry. Participants receive student lobster licenses, gear, and training, along with mentorship from working lobstermen as they gain experience on the water.
The organization has an opportunity through the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to send students to the National Future Fishermen’s Summit, taking place during Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle in November. The event will give young fishermen a chance to meet industry professionals, explore career and business opportunities, and learn from established members of the commercial fishing and maritime industries.
Two advanced Lift All Boats students, Janelle and Sunila, are hoping to make the trip west.
Janelle, a second-year student, said attending the summit would give her the opportunity to connect with other young people in marine industries and learn from seasoned industry members, bringing new ideas and perspectives back to Maine.
Sunila, a third-year student, said the experience could help move her closer to her goal of working aboard a fishing vessel in Alaska while expanding her knowledge of vessel maintenance and repairs.
For Lift All Boats, the trip represents an opportunity to expose young fishermen to parts of the industry they may not encounter on the deck of a lobster boat, from networking with fishermen across the country to exploring different careers throughout the working waterfront.
Those who cannot attend Tuesday’s fundraiser can also donate directly to Lift All Boats to support the students’ trip to Seattle.
