PORTLAND (WGME) — Wednesday was Share the Power of a Wish Day at CBS13, where we help raise money, make wishes come true and shine a light on the importance of Make-A-Wish Maine as they grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses all across the state.

We had amazing volunteers in our studio all day.

CBS13 had a goal of helping to raise $130,000 and Mainers knocked that out of the park, raising roughly $132,000.

All of that money goes toward making wishes come true. Last year was another record-setting year, where you helped grant 89 wishes. This year, we were looking to grant even more.

Interview with Make-A-Wish Maine CEO Brian Franks (WGME)

Make-A-Wish Maine has granted more than 2,000 wishes since they started granting wishes more than 30 years ago, and their hope is to reach every eligible child in Maine who is battling a critical illness.

AUGUSTA (WGME) — Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis.

It involves repurposing vacant schools and providing towns the support to do so.

Bill sponsor Traci Gere is calling it a common sense solution.

“It’s a win-win for everyone involved. The community, the folks who will be living there in the future and the developers,” Gere said.

Data from the state shows there are more than two dozen vacant school buildings across Maine. Gabe Gauvin from the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority says some towns don’t have the means to do anything about it.

“Demographic trends indicate closures will continue. This list stands to grow dramatically,” Gauvin said.

Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)

Gauvin and the Maine Development Land Bank Authority support Gere’s bill.

It would establish the Vacant School Housing Conversion program, along with a $5 million annual fund to support school conversions. Gere says it not only fulfills the ongoing need for housing but also rehabilitates buildings already in the community.

“It does really have that warm place in the community’s heart. People don’t want to see it deteriorate and fall apart. People want to see it used for productive reuse, whether it’s for something that is housing related,” Gere said. “We want to make sure to leverage those and use those sources as much as possible to make sure these buildings become housing that people can affordable.”

Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)

Gauvin says the money would go towards helping municipalities pay costs for planning, construction and infrastructure improvements.

If passed, the bill would also mandate the Redevelopment Housing Authority to submit an annual report to the legislature on the group’s progress.