While volunteering one evening, Taylor had the opportunity to witness the informal ways restorative justice takes shape in community.
Taylor Lovering, Restorative Justice Manager with RJP Maine, was among a group of friends who organized in the Lewiston-Auburn area to keep neighbors fed during SNAP benefit interruptions. The group adopted the name “We Feed Us.”
“Restorative justice isn’t just about harm repair circles; it’s about building a community of care and trust.”
— Taylor Lovering, Restorative Justice Manager
photo credit: We Feed Us
“We built a really great volunteer crew,” Taylor explains. “By the third week, all of us were feeling really comfortable around each other and really safe. And of course, when we start to feel comfortable, sometimes we aren’t as aware of our surroundings.”
One afternoon Eva*, a dedicated volunteer who was volunteering almost daily, dropped her purse in a public spot before rolling up her sleeves and jumping into meal preparations. Following another lively community dinner, as the crew folded chairs and said goodnights, Eva made an unfortunate discovery. The contents of her purse, including her wallet and keys, were missing.
“She was very upset, obviously. I think too she was more upset with her keys being gone, because she was like, how am I supposed to drive home?“
Others helped Eva to review security footage. They were able to identify the individual who had walked off with Eva’s belongings as an unhoused elder in the community.
Taylor describes their unease: “That made me feel even worse. You know, we’re going to call the cops and they’re going to arrest her. And she’s going to spend the night in jail, and she’s not going to get any support. And she clearly needs support.”
Over three weeks of cooking, cleaning, and breaking bread, the We Feed Us community had built relationships. These relationships created a path forward. A community member who regularly volunteered in the kitchen had been seen walking out with the woman who likely had Eva’s keys. She and Taylor had exchanged numbers. Taylor offered to make a call.
Over three weeks of cooking, cleaning, and breaking bread, the We Feed Us community had built relationships. These relationships created a path forward.
photo credit: We Feed Us
“[Washing dishes and chatting], in those moments, we just really got to know each other,” Taylor reflects. “I think if we hadn’t had that relationship, there’s no way she would have called me back. But because we had had conversations about what I do for work and how the two of us believe that people have the ability to change, I think she felt safe.”
The conversation pointed towards a shelter with whom We Feed Us had an established and trusted partnership.
In the meantime, the police had been contacted and were on their way. Taylor offered to sit and wait with Eva. In the quiet of waiting together, Eva voiced her own unease.
“Taylor, you and I have had these conversations about restorative justice,” Taylor paraphrases Eva. “I know that this woman, she didn’t do this to hurt me.” The police came and went. Afterwards, Eva told Taylor, “I really, really hope that you find her, because I really don’t want her going to jail tonight.”
Thankfully, the woman, along with Eva’s keys, had made her way to the shelter. Shelter staff approached her, and she returned everything.
“Because we were able to take this alternate route, the woman was able to stay in a safe place. She was not brought to jail. And she’s actually receiving the support she needs. It was also our opportunity, and really the community’s opportunity, to bring her in instead of sending her out.”
It was also our opportunity, and really the community’s opportunity, to bring her in instead of sending her out.
“And,” Taylor adds, “it just felt right.”
*Names have been changed