Events

8th Annual Day of Giving

January 24, 2025By

On Saturday, December 21, local businesses from Searsport to Thomaston and community members came together in the spirit of generosity and cooperation during UMC’s annual Day of Giving. On this special day, participating businesses pledged a portion of the day’s sales to support UMC’s Grants Program. The event not only bolstered our fundraising efforts but also highlighted the incredible power of community solidarity.

We are deeply grateful for the support of the local businesses and the enthusiastic participation of everyone who shopped, dined, and contributed to this event. Together, we are making a difference.

See all participating businesses here.

Photo above shows 2024 Day of Giving collection box at Winifred and Evalyn in Rockland.

READ MORE
Events

2nd Annual Gingerbread Contest

January 24, 2025By

During Camden’s festive “Christmas By The Sea” weekend, our Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibition drew in a crowd of enthusiastic participants and visitors. In its second year, the event saw a remarkable doubling in attendance, as families and friends gathered to marvel at the creativity on display and vote for their favorite gingerbread creations. Beyond the fun, and monies raised for UMC’s Grants Program, this event provided an excellent opportunity to educate the community about the critical needs UMC addresses.

    • 1st Place Adult Amateur & People’s Choice Award – Jessica Bailey
    • 2nd Place Adult Amateur – Barbara Bauldaman
    • 3d Place Adult Amateur – Justin Cristiansen
    • 1st Place Youth Amateur – James Kivel
    • 2nd Place Youth Amateur – Victoria Mason
    • 3rd Place Youth Amateur – Nataly Turner-Watts
    • 1st Place Professional – Stephen Watts
READ MORE
Capacity Building

New Tools Provide More Than $250,000 in Added Value for Grantees

October 17, 2024By

Nonprofits can now access Foundation Directory Pro (FDP) and GuideStar Pro through the Candid Community App at the United Midcoast Charities (UMC) offices in Camden.  As a Funding Information Network Location, UMC can help nonprofits access hundreds of thousands of potential funders. Previously, those without a pro subscription would have to go to Portland to access this information. 

Utilizing FDP, nonprofits gain comprehensive and current insights to drive their searches. The extensive profile of each grantmaker provides valuable insights into their past grants, the causes they fund, how much they typically give out, and who is connected to each organization. This helps identify and prioritize the most suitable funders. Since 90% of U.S. foundations lack websites, finding funders through a standard internet search is nearly impossible. FDP connects nonprofits with philanthropists eager to support their missions.

GuideStar Pro is the most comprehensive source of nonprofit information available, with access to 1.8 million+ nonprofits. With the most advanced search and analysis tool for researching nonprofits, organizations can search and filter by organization, type, size and location, detailed cause areas and populations served, and see in-depth organizational financial information.

New to Foundation Directory? The staff at UMC are trained to assist organizations in getting started. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, email admin@unitedmidcoastcharities.org, or call the UMC office at 207-236-2299.

A recent workshop was held for 2024 Grantees to be introduced to the tools with opportunity for hands on experience. Thirteen grantees attended this first L.E.A.R.N. @ UMC event and left saying things like “`Many thanks to you for a super enlightening morning!” and “It was a great workshop! I am excited to take advantage of all these resources!!”

READ MORE
Agency Events

2024 Grantees Announced

September 18, 2024By

United Midcoast Charities this year distributed $630,000 in grant funding to 42 agencies providing the basic needs of food, housing, health & safety, and economic security to residents of Knox and Waldo counties.

“Of all the households in Knox and Waldo counties, 42% are working and make too much to qualify for government assistance but not enough to cover the cost of living on their own. They rely on the many partner agencies we fund to make ends meet,” said UMC Executive Director Becca Gildred. “I’m so glad that we can help bolster the vast majority of organizations in this region that make up the nonprofit portion of the safety net.”

UMC’s board of directors celebrated the grantees at the annual grantees’ breakfast sponsored by the Samoset Resort on September 11.

This year’s recipients grouped by focus area include:

FOOD

  • AIO Food Pantry
  • Belfast Soup Kitchen
  • Come Spring Food Pantry
  • MCH Inc. – Meals on Wheels
  • No Greater Love Food Pantry
  • St. Bernard Soup Kitchen
  • Waldo County Bounty*

HOUSING

  • Homeworthy (fna) Knox County Homeless Coalition
  • Midcoast Habitat for Humanity
  • Midcoast Recovery Coalition

HEALTH & SAFETY

  • American Red Cross
  • Belfast Public Health Nursing
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Camden Area District Nursing
  • Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers
  • Coastal Opportunities
  • Coastal Recovery Community Center*
  • Finding Our Voices
  • Knox Clinic
  • Maine Youth Alliance – Game Loft
  • Maine Family Planning
  • Maine HealthCare at Home
  • New Hope Midcoast
  • Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County
  • OUT Maine
  • Pine Tree Society*
  • Rockland District Nursing Association
  • Sexual Assault Support Services
  • Soap Closet
  • Southern Harbor Eldercare Services
  • Spectrum Generations
  • St. George Community Development Corporation*
  • Trekkers, Inc.
  • Waldo County Dental Care
  • Waldo County Woodshed

ECONOMIC SECURITY

  • Belfast Area Child Care Services
  • But Still I Am One
  • Penobscot Bay YMCA
  • Penquis CAP – DVIP
  • Waldo CAP
  • Waldo County YMCA
  • Waterman’s Community Center

Agencies listed with (*) denote new grantees for 2024.

READ MORE
Agency Events

Advocating for Hope & Kindness

September 5, 2024By

United Midcoast Charities Annual Grantee Breakfast to Participate in Live, Virtual Global Conversation on Advocating for Hope and Kindness

On September 11, during National Compassionate Leadership Week, author and philanthropist Donato Tramuto, of the TramutoPorter Foundation, will host a live conversation at United Midcoast Charities’ Annual Grantee Breakfast Celebration sponsored by the Samoset Resort in Rockport. Tramuto, speaking from Maine, will be joined virtually by 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, who will participate via Zoom from India. This conversation, held on the anniversary of September 11, will examine the crucial role of compassion in leadership and its healing power. Community members can register for the free virtual event here: https://tramutofoundation.com/compassion/2024-summit/

National Compassionate Leadership Week honors leaders who use empathy to drive success in business, education, and community. This week highlights the proven benefits of compassionate leadership and its positive impact on all areas of life. “Our goal is to create a movement that brings more compassion into every part of life,” said Tramuto. “By honoring those who lead with compassion, we aim to build momentum and make a lasting impact.”

UMC is proud to partner with the TramutoPorter Foundation as the host of what is being recognized as a major highlight of the week’s agenda.

This year, United Midcoast Charities is distributing grants totaling $630,000 to 42 agencies providing the basic needs of food, housing, health & safety, and economic security to residents of Knox and Waldo counties. We couldn’t think of a more inspiring topic for an event dedicated to leaders who are committed to compassionate leadership within their own organizations.

About Donato J. Tramuto

Donato J. Tramuto is the former CEO of Tivity Health®, Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY). He is widely recognized for his commitment to social change and transformational leadership in healthcare innovation, which led the New York Times to deem him “a global health activist.”

Tramuto is also the founder and chair of The TramutoPorter Foundation, which advances young people’s rights to education and healthcare access and combats human rights violations. He launched the foundation in memory of his two friends and their three-year-old son, who lost their lives on 9/11 when United Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. Tramuto had planned to be on that flight; however, he never joined his friends due to a toothache. Since the foundation’s launch, over 100 young adults have received a TramutoPorter Foundation Scholarship to pursue their dream of a College Education. Many organizations have received financial and partnership support, helping them deliver on their promise to make the world a more equitable place.

His three-decade commitment to social change and innovation has earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope (2014) and the RFK Embracing His Legacy Awards (2016). He also received the PharmaVoice RedJacet award presented to leaders in the Life Sciences Industry who have shown what it means to be an inspired leader for their teams, their companies, their communities, and the industry at large.

Tramuto currently serves as a member of the board of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and is chairman of its Leadership Council, where his foundation has committed to funding a three-year, $1 million grant to address workplace bullying, leading a national initiative to address workplace dignity and inclusion in the U.S. and Europe.

To learn more about Donato Tramuto visit https://www.tramutofoundation.org

About Kailash Satyarthi

2014 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Kailash Satyarthi is a human rights activist from India who has been at the forefront of the global movement to end child slavery and exploitation since 1980, when he gave up a lucrative career as an electrical engineer to initiate a crusade against child servitude. As a grassroots activist, Kailash and the grassroots movement he founded, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (English: Save Childhood Movement), have liberated more than 83,000 children from exploitation and developed a successful model for their education, rehabilitation, and reintegration into mainstream society. As a worldwide campaigner, he has been the architect of the largest civil society network for the most exploited children, the Global March Against Child Labour, a worldwide coalition of children’s rights organizations, teachers’ unions, and trade unions. His efforts led to the adoption of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor in 1999. He is also the founding president of the Global Campaign for Education, an exemplary civil society movement working to end the global education crisis, and GoodWeave International, which raises consumer awareness and positive action in the carpet industry.

For more on Kailash Satyarthi and his passionate work over the years, visit https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2014/satyarthi/biographical/

READ MORE
Events

Eat, Drink & Be Generous

August 28, 2024By

United Midcoast Charities’ Eat, Drink & Be Generous Event Honors Volunteers, Donors, and Grantees

On August 22, a quintessential Maine summer day featuring everything from bright, sunny skies to a sudden downpour and a stunning double rainbow, United Midcoast Charities gathered with friends and supporters to celebrate the organization’s grantee organizations, honor its Community Champions, present the Sani Award for Philanthropic Excellence to Karen Foxwell, and launch its 2025 fundraising campaign.

Partygoers at the Belfast Yacht Club & Event Center took in breathtaking views of Belfast Bay, enjoyed delicious food and drink, participated in an engaging silent auction, and won unique door prizes. The prizes included a one-of-a-kind plein-air painting created by Mary Ann Heinzen-Hackett during the event.

“We were delighted to honor the individuals who tirelessly carry out our mission and to celebrate the generous supporters who make our work possible,” said UMC Executive Director Becca Gildred.  “The evening was a beautiful blend of recognition and gratitude. I am incredibly proud of the impactful work UMC does to amplify the efforts of our partner agencies throughout the Midcoast region.”

Cellardoor Winery, Rockport Steel, O’Hara Corporation, and Front Street Shipyard generously sponsored the event.

Local businesses supported the event by donating silent auction items. Contributors include 250 Main Hotel, 40 Paper, Ada’s Kitchen, A Morning In Maine, Acadia Ebike Adventure, Allagash Brewing Co., ALLPLaY Family Entertainment Center, American Flatbread, American Ghost Walks, Amy Jenner, Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co., Bay Chamber Concerts, Bay View Collection, Bears Den Billiards & Trapt Escape Rooms, Beaver Lodge, Bistro La Cave, Blue Barren Distillery & Restaurant, Boston Red Sox, Camden Conference, CedarWorks, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Christine’s Framing Gallery, City Drawers, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Colburn Shoe Store, Delvino’s Grill & Pasta House, Dot’s Market, Dry Dock Restaurant, Farnsworth Art Museum, Flowers by Hoboken, Front Street Pub, Goose River Golf Club, Graffam Bros. Seafood Market, The Grasshopper Shop, Hey Sailor, House of Logan, Jess’s Market, Jesse Tobias Designs, L.L. Bean, Leonard’s, Loyal Biscuit Co., The LimeRock Inn, Maine Island Trail Association, Maine Mariners, Maine Media, Maine State Credit Union, Mainely Gallery & Studio, McLaughlin Seafood, Midcoast Recreation Center, MountainSea Expeditions, Once A Tree, Pen Bay YMCA, Planet Toys, Nina June, RAYR – The Wine Shop, Rockland Golf Club, Sailing Vessel Owl, Strand Theatre, Symmetree Base Camp, The Craignair Inn by the Sea, The Everyman Repertory Theatre, The Pour Farm, The Samoset Resort, The Smiling Cow, The Waterfront Restaurant, The Wharf at Lyman-Morse, TOPO Gallery, Waldo County YMCA, Winifred & Evalyn, and Wooden Alchemy.

For more details on this year’s event click here.

 

READ MORE
Focus Areas

Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less with AIO Meal Kits

August 15, 2024By

The AIO Market has busy moms and anyone who needs a bit of inspiration in the kitchen in mind with their meal kits. Every month they’re debuting new meal kits and serving up samples in their market. When I last popped in, on the menu was Cajun Shrimp Mac & Cheese. In the kit you got nearly everything you need to make the dish —EVEN a portioned amount of the spices!

  • 1 Box Macaroni & Cheese
  • 13-15 Gulf Shrimp
  • 1 Large Tomato or 2 Roma Tomatos
  • 3/4 Tbsp of Cajun Seasoning
  • 1-1/2 Tbsp Butter
  • Approx. 1/4 C Milk
  • Servings 3-4
READ MORE

Baking for a Better World

June 27, 2024By

Three Camden Rockport Middle Schoolers baked numerous tasty treats and held a bake sale in Camden over the weekend. They raised more than $200 through their bake sale to support long-time United Midcoast Charities grantees Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, Homeworthy and AIO Food & Energy Assistance.

This was part of their 7th grade “Solutionaries Project”, a project based learning collaboration between Social Studies and Language Arts classes and required students to think critically about the problems they face in the world and what they can do to solve them. Students did research around challenges that were connected to their own personal values and then narrowed in on one specific problem they wanted to focus on. From there they researched causes and impacts of that problem and met with local stakeholders and experts to brainstorm possible solutions. It is great to see these young change makers in action!

 

READ MORE
fan on table with teapotHealth and Safety

How to prepare for a Heat Wave

June 18, 2024By

Just in time for our upcoming summer weather, the American Red Cross of Northern New England—one of UMC’s long-time partner agencies—offers the following tips on how to prepare for a heat wave.

Download the Complete Extreme-Heat-Safety-Checklist here.

For many of us, we are fortunate enough to have fans or air conditioning. For those less fortunate, living without a home or with out fans or air conditioning, or those working outside, this sort of event can be life threatening. It is also a good time to check in on those neighbors who are older or who may be living alone. Please note that in Rockland, the following sites are open as cooling centers open to the public.

Flanagan Center (not air conditioned): Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Rockland City Hall Council Chambers (air conditioned): Tuesday, Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. & Friday, 7:30 a.m. – Noon, Closed June 19, 2024

Rockland Public Library: Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Union Town Office: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00-4:00 p.m.

Washington Town Office: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00-6:00 p.m.

For state-wide cooling centers click here. You can sort by county to find those closest to you.

Weather forecast for Camden, Maine.

READ MORE
Focus Areas

Two Food Programs Announced for Summer

June 11, 2024By

13% of Knox & Waldo county residents are food insecure. Of those 10,400 people, 35% are in households earning too much to qualify for food assistance. 43% of households in Knox & Waldo counties don’t bring home enough annual income to meet the basic needs for survival in this same region—let alone save for stability. Click here to learn more.

HARVEST BUCKS PROGRAM

Maine Harvest Bucks is a program available at participating farmer’s markets, CSA’s, and farm stands throughout the state. The program was designed to both support our local farmers and assist community members who are otherwise unable to afford healthy, nutritious, locally-grown food. When SNAP/EBT dollars are used at farmer’s markets to purchase local food, you earn bonus bucks that can be used to purchase additional fruits and vegetables. At CSA’s and farm stands, shoppers likely get a 50% discount on their fruit and vegetable purchases. Each participating market has an information booth explaining how the process works at their location. Make sure to stop there first for all the details! 

SUN BUCKS PROGRAM

Sadly, many kids experience hunger during the summer when school meals are no longer available. To address this, we now have Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT). Summer EBT is a program that provides low-income families with food benefits to cover the cost of additional groceries during summer break. It helps bridge the hunger gap when children are not receiving school meals. Eligible children receive $120 in Summer EBT benefits, which can be used like SNAP benefits to buy foods at authorized grocery stores and farmers’ markets. 

Click here a list of our food related grantees from this past year and where you can get food assistance.

 

READ MORE
  • 1
  • 2