Food

Waldo County Emergency Food Summit

October 31, 2025By

On October 31, Waldo Community Action Partners (WCAP) hosted its Emergency Food Summit in Belfast—a gathering of nonprofits, food pantries, schools, municipal and faith‑based leaders, and community partners working to address food insecurity across Waldo County.

The summit comes at a critical moment: many households face uncertainty as food assistance programs shift and benefits change.

Collaboration in action

UMC, along with several of our grantee organizations, participated, bringing experience and insight to the conversation:

The passionate turnout to this event underscores that tackling food insecurity is not just about providing meals—it’s about strengthening connections, sharing resources, and coordinating efforts across organizations. UMC is proud to play a central convening role, connecting partners and helping prevent small gaps from becoming bigger holes in the safety net every day.

 

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Grantee BreakfastAgency 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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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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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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Economic Security

UMC Launches Stimulus Drive to Aid Those in Need

March 15, 2021By

CAMDEN – March 15, 2021 – As recently announced stimulus payments arrive, many individuals and families will find relief from pandemic-related financial challenges. But if you receive money you do not need, United Midcoast Charities offers this solution: Donate part or all of your stimulus check to UMC.

One hundred percent (100%) of all contributions will provide much-needed funding to more than 50 nonprofit organizations that work diligently to provide food, shelter, health & safety, and economic security for more than 27,000 residents in Knox and Waldo.

“Our grantees have helped ease the challenges many of our neighbors have faced during the past year,” says UMC President Lori Alexander. “While there is starting to be an end in sight, the need for food, shelter, and other necessities has soared and will continue to be high for the coming months. We welcome contributions of any size from people who want to put their stimulus payments to excellent use.”

For more information about how you can help more people get through the pandemic, visit  https://unitedmidcoastcharities.org/donate/.

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FPFP_creditWinkyLewisFood

UMC Partners with Full Plates Full Potential to Feed Kids

July 14, 2020By

UMC recently partnered with the statewide student hunger prevention organization, Full Plates Full Potential, to help provide grants to school districts in Knox and Waldo counties. UMC’s new Rapid Response Fund (RRF) has made this funding possible as hunger rates are expected to soar due to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Making sure kids have access to nutritious meals every day is a top priority,” said Full Plates Full Potential Co-Director Justin Alfond. “We are pleased to collaborate with UMC during the pandemic to help make summer meals available for children in Knox and Waldo counties. And we’d like to thank the community members who have contributed to UMC’s Rapid Response Fund.”

Every dollar donated to UMC’s Rapid Response Fund is put to use for RRF grants. RRF funding decisions and awards have a one-week or less turnaround time. Additional contributions from the community will help with emergency needs, such as:

•                     Food for local pantries experiencing an unprecedented surge in need

•                     Soup kitchens seeing more families needing hot meals for the first time

•                     Housing solutions for homeless families

•                     Help and housing for domestic violence victims

•                     Meal delivery service for home-bound and elderly folks

•                     In-home nursing services to keep elderly patients out of the ER

 

UMC’s initial goal is to raise at least $100,000 to help with local pandemic-related needs. For more information and to contribute, please visit unitedmidcoastcharities.org/rrf. For a full list of summer meal grantees, please visit https://www.fullplates.org/news/all-of-the-summer-meals-emergency-fund-grantees-mapped/.

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