The goal of The Kindling is to combat loneliness and helplessness by inspiring community action and engagement. The Kindling does this by uniting rural, Western Mainers around local news, common interests, and the things that bring us collective hope and joy. Having a common newsletter — and ultimately a shared reality — combats isolation that leads to so many negative outcomes, as outlined by surgeon general Vivek Murthy in his 2023 advisory “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation Epidemic”.