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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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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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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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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