News

United Midcoast Charities announces new Board Member

February 23, 2024By

CAMDEN, Maine – United Midcoast Charities recently announced the addition of Larrain Slaymaker to its Board of Directors. Larrain has lived in Hope Maine for over forty years and has worked with a wide range of businesses, non-profits, government, and community organizations over her career. She has operated several marine businesses and currently owns and operates NorthPoint Yacht Charters. In addition, Larrain has served on numerous Boards including the National Resources Council of Maine, and was Chair of the Knox Local Case Resolution Committee under the Maine Children’s Cabinet. Larrain has strong personal interests in working with entrepreneurs, sustainable economic development, social capitalism, creative economies, and social justice.

We look forward to Larrain’s contributions, with a focus on Grants and Development. Welcome Larrain!

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Focus Areas

2024 Grant Applications to Open at United Midcoast Charities

February 12, 2024By

CAMDEN, Maine – UMC is pleased to announce that starting March 1, our annual grants application process begins. Nonprofit organizations providing services to Knox and Waldo County residents in UMC’s four focus areas of food, housing, health and safety, and economic security are strongly encouraged to apply. This application is the first step in UMC’s thoughtful months-long review process by the UMC Grants Committee and Board of Directors.

“As a relatively young nonprofit, we embarked on the grant application process last year with many uncertainties,” said Neva Allen, Founder & President of But Still I Am One, a Waldo County nonprofit supporting young adults ages 16-21 who are unhoused or home insecure. “The guidance and assistance we received from United Midcoast Charities proved to be invaluable. Their expertise helped us to navigate the complexities, and we were thrilled to secure a grant.”

The application window ends on March 31, so be sure to get your application in by that date.  To apply, visit our website at https://unitedmidcoastcharities.org/our-grant-program/apply-for-a-grant/. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 207-236-2299.

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2023 UMC Days of GivingEvents

United Midcoast Charities’ Annual “Day of Giving” Sets New Record!

December 15, 2023By

CAMDEN – United Midcoast Charities’ annual “Day of Giving” was held this past Saturday, December 9, and a record-setting 88 local retailers and restaurants from Thomaston to Belfast donated part of the day’s proceeds to support more than 40 agencies in Knox and Waldo counties providing essential services in UMC’s focus areas of food, housing, health and safety, and economic security. Thanks to the support of sponsors, participating retailers, and community members who came out in droves, UMC’s grants program will continue to grow and thrive in the new year!

“As a locally owned family business operating since 1975, we take pride in being able to support the local community,” said Sierra Dietz, owner of The Grasshopper Shops and longtime supporter of Day of Giving. “UMC provides incredible assistance for so many area nonprofits and we are happy to be able to support the work they are doing.“

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Focus Areas

United Midcoast Charities Announces 42 Grant Recipients for 2023

September 13, 2023By

CAMDEN— September 13, 2023 – United Midcoast Charities has awarded grants totaling $597,000 to 42 agencies providing the basic needs of food, housing, health & safety, and economic security to residents of Knox and Waldo counties.

“We’re beyond proud to be supporting local nonprofits for more than 81 years,” said UMC President John Viehman, “and this year thanks to the generosity of our donors we increased our grantmaking by 20 percent over last year. Plus we’ll also be able once again to fully fund our Urgent Needs Grants. That means there will be reserve funding for needs that arise outside our annual grants cycle.”

UMC’s board of directors announced the grant awards at a celebratory breakfast sponsored by the Samoset Resort on September 12.

In congratulating the recipients, Viehman remarked, “It’s always inspiring to see so many agencies gathered together in one place and to feel the exponential impact they have on our friends and neighbors in need here in the Midcoast!”

This year’s recipients grouped by focus area include:

FOOD

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

HOUSING

  • Family Promise of Midcoast Maine
  • 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
  • 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
  • Rockland District Nursing Association
  • Sexual Assault Support Services
  • Soap Closet
  • Southern Harbor Eldercare Services
  • Spectrum Generations
  • The Beacon Project
  • 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
  • Trekkers, Inc.
  • Waldo CAP
  • Waldo County YMCA
  • Waterman’s Community Center
  • Wayfinder Schools
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News

UMC Awards $500,000 in Grants to 39 Local Agencies

September 19, 2022By

CAMDEN—In its 80th year, the Board of United Midcoast Charities announced this year’s grants will provide $500,000 to 39 agencies providing the basic needs of food, housing, health & safety, and economic security to residents here in Knox and Waldo counties.

“Thanks to the strong support from our donors,” said UMC President John Viehman, “we not only reached our grantmaking goal, we’ll also be able to fully fund our Urgent Needs Grants. That means there will be reserve funding for needs that arise outside our annual grants cycle.”

A celebratory breakfast sponsored by The Samoset Resort is scheduled in early September. Viehman adds, “It’s inspiring to see so many agencies gathered together in one place and to feel the exponential impact they have on our friends and neighbors in need here in the Midcoast!”

This year’s recipients grouped by focus area include:

FOOD

AIO Food Pantry

Belfast Soup Kitchen

Come Spring Food Pantry

Knox County Gleaners

MCH Inc. – Meals on Wheels

No Greater Love Food Pantry

St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen

The Kindness Programs

 

HOUSING

Coastal Opportunities

Knox County Homeless Coalition

Midcoast Habitat for Humanity

Midcoast Recovery Coalition

 

HEALTH & SAFETY

Belfast Public Health Nursing

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Camden Area District Nursing

Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers

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

Rockland District Nursing Association

Sexual Assault Support Services

Soap Closet

Waldo County Dental Care

Waldo County Woodshed

 

ECONOMIC SECURITY

Belfast Area Child Care Services

Penobscot Bay YMCA

Penquis CAP- Head Start

Restorative Justice Project

Trekkers, Inc.

University of Maine at Augusta Rockland

Waldo CAP

Waldo County YMCA

Waterman’s Community Center

Wayfinder Schools

 

Founded in 1942, UMC energizes Midcoast Maine nonprofits through finance and guidance, supporting a network of resources stronger than any single organization. UMC’s primary focus areas are food, housing, health & safety, and economic security. Learn more about United Midcoast Charities by visiting www.unitedmidcoastcharities.org or call 207-236-2299.

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