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.

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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
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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.

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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.

 

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Housing

Midcoast Habitat Dedicates Emily’s Way at Firefly Field

May 29, 2024By

Together with family and friends of Emily Mecklenburg, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity (MHFH) unveiled the newly designated Emily’s Way on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The dedication of the street stands as a symbol of gratitude and remembrance, ensuring that Mecklenburg’s spirit of generosity will be honored and remembered for generations to come.

“We are deeply honored to dedicate this street to the memory of Emily Mecklenburg,” said Tia Anderson, Executive Director of MHFH. “Her legacy will be woven into the fabric of these homes, this neighborhood, and our city, inspiring us to continue her hands-on work of caring for our neighbors and building community.”

As a lasting memorial, her family has established the Broad Reach Fund at MHFH to support housing creation in Rockland and beyond. The fund has been generously supported by many of Emily’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Donations may be made to the fund in her memory to support efforts toward affordable housing. When complete the Firefly subdivision should house nearly 40 residents offering both rentals and homeownership options. Midcoast Habitat for Humanity has been a UMC grantee for more than a decade.

Give once. Support Many.

 

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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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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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DAY-OF-GIVING-UNITED-MIDCOAST-2021-2Events

75+ Local Businesses Support “Day Of Giving”

January 24, 2022By

The Annual Day of Giving on Saturday, December 18 showcased more than 75 area businesses who, in partnership with United Midcoast Charities, supported dozens of Midcoast nonprofits in Knox and Waldo Counties.

Residents who still needed to do their holiday shopping or enjoy a Yuletide meal visited these community-minded retailers and restaurants in Camden, Rockland, Rockport, Belfast, Thomaston, Lincolnville and Northport.

“This is a fun day to shop and dine locally while paying it forward at the same time,” explained UMC’s Executive Director John Viehman. “UMC provides vital funding to more than 50 Midcoast nonprofits who provide the most basic needs of food, housing, health and safety, and economic security here in our communities. We are grateful to the many local retailers and restaurants making a contribution or donating part of their day’s proceeds to UMC’s Grant Program during this holiday season. As always, 100 percent of all donations go directly to the local nonprofits we support.”

Area Businesses participating in UMC’s December 18th’s Day of Giving were:

BELFAST: All about Games, Belfast Co-op, Brambles, City Drawers, Colburn’s Shoe Store, Heavenly Yarns, Left Bank Books, Out on A Whimsy Toys, Rollie’s/Rollie’s Remote Catering, Second Hand Eve, The Good Table, The Porch, and Vinolio 

NORTHPORT: Maine Alpaca Experience 

LINCOLNVILLE: The Red Cottage 

CAMDEN/ROCKPORT: Antiques@10 Mechanic, Carver Hill Gallery, Leonard’s, Maine Seaside Treasures, Once A Tree, Planet Toys, Seadog Brewing Company, Serendipity Fine Consignment, Small Wonder Gallery, Sugar Tools, The Leather Bench, Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe, Zoot Coffee, RAYR and The Wine & Cheese Shop 

ROCKLAND: Clan MacLaren, Flowers by Hoboken, fourTwelve, Grasshopper Shop, hellohello Books, Huston Tuttle, In Good Company, Loyal Biscuit, Main Street Markets, Primo Restaurant, Rock City Cafe, Seagull Cottage, Side Country Sports, and The Wine Seller 

THOMASTON: FlipSide Coffee, and Coastal Mountain Chiro 

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Events

UMC Selected For Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good Program

July 19, 2021By

CAMDEN, Maine – Brighten your day with a bouquet that gives back to the local community!

The Camden Hannaford has chosen United Midcoast Charities (UMC) as the benefiting non-profit in the store’s brand-new Bloomin’ 4 Good Program in August. For every $11.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet purchased from the store at 145 Elm Street, UMC will receive a $1 donation.

“Flowers can make someone’s day, brighten up a room or spread a smile,” said UMC Executive Director John Viehman. “Now those blooms can help even more people! We are thrilled to benefit from Hannaford’s unique and impactful Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, as the demands of those in need are higher than ever this year.”

UMC is a non-profit based in Camden, Maine. Founded in 1942, it energizes Midcoast Maine non-profits 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.

For details about the Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, please visit www.hannaford.bloomin4good.com.

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Agency Events

2021 Grantees Announced: 34 nonprofits awarded total of $464,750

July 14, 2021By

CAMDEN – July 27, 2021 – United Midcoast Charities has awarded $464,750 to 34 nonprofits that address the most basic needs for food, housing, health and safety, and economic security in Knox and Waldo counties.

UMC’s grants committee selected the recipients after a thorough competitive review that used an accelerated, online grant application process developed last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Although the Midcoast has returned to some semblance of normalcy in recent months, many of our friends and neighbors still face enormous challenges,” said UMC President Lori Alexander. “We met urgent needs in 2020 by speeding up our grantmaking process and giving our grantees more freedom in their use of their funding. We also created a Rapid Response fund to address emergencies that arose due to the COVID pandemic. Our successes last year confirmed the importance of flexibility in addressing today’s needs.”

At a breakfast generously sponsored by Allen Insurance & Financial, Bangor Savings Bank, and The Samoset Resort on July 13, the following agencies received grants:

Food — Belfast Soup Kitchen, MCH Inc. Meals on Wheels, No Greater Love Food Pantry, and St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen.

Housing — Knox County Homeless Coalition, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, and Mid Coast Recovery Coalition.

Health & Safety — Belfast Public Health Nursing Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, Maine Family Planning, Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County, Maine Youth Alliance, Knox County Health Clinic, New Hope for Women, One Less Worry, OUT Maine, Parent Program of Mid-Coast Maine, Rockland District Nursing Association, Sexual Support Assault Services, Soap Closet, MaineHealth Care at Home, Waldo County Dental Care, and Waldo County Woodshed.

Economic Security — Belfast Area Child Care Services Inc., Penobscot Bay YMCA, Penquis CAP, Restorative Justice Project, Station Maine, Trekkers, UMA Rockland Center, Waldo Community Action Partners, Waldo County YMCA, Waterman’s Community Center, and Wayfinder Schools: Passages Program.

For further details about the grantees, visit UnitedMidcoastCharities.org/Grantees.

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