100% of UMC’s donations are applied to our Grant Program. UMC’s grants are funded through individual and private foundation contributions. Click here to donate so we can award more dollars to local agencies.
UMC offers an open competitive grants process which supports nonprofit agencies in Knox and Waldo counties working in the areas of food, housing, health & safety and economic security. For more information about our grant program, click here.
In 2020, UMC’s regular grants cycle funded the following proposals from organizations making an impact in UMC’s focus areas:
FOOD
| AIO Food & Energy Assistance – $30,000 | Three food assistance programs for more than 11,000 individuals. |
| Belfast Soup Kitchen – $16,000 | Nutritious meals 5 days/wk, all year for the most vulnerable. |
| MCH Inc Meals on Wheels – $30,000 | Hot, nutritious meals to Knox County seniors and disabled adults. |
| Penquis R.S.V.P. – $5,000 | Expanding a system for delivering fresh food to Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Islesboro. |
| St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen – $5,000 | Feeding the hungry 5 days a week in Rockland. |
HOUSING
| Knox County Homeless Coalition – $30,000 | Helping homeless families and at-risk youth find homes and lasting stability. |
| Midcoast Habitat for Humanity – $10,000 | Affordable housing/home-ownership for a low to moderate income Knox County residents in need. |
| The Ripple Initiative – $10,000 | Furniture and household goods for people transitioning to stable housing to increase likelihood of remaining housed. |
| Volunteers of America Northern New England – $10,000 | Multi-Program Housing and Services for 12 vulnerable-population Waldo County residents. |
| Waldo County Woodshed – $5,000 | Free firewood for households in need in Waldo County (and some of Knox County). |
HEALTH & SAFETY
| Belfast Public Health Nursing Association – $8,000 | Safety net services to support health and safety for vulnerable Waldo County community members. |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine – $1,500 | Increase positive outcomes for 126 at-risk children using technology-enhanced mentoring. |
| Maine Family Planning – $15,000 | Excellent, affordable, and accessible reproductive and sexual health and wellness for all Mainers. |
| Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County – $1,500 | Improving quality, education and comfort at the end of life and support for bereaved people |
| Maine Youth Alliance – $10,000 | Promoting compassionate youth and public-spirited communities in Waldo County through mentoring and volunteer opportunities. |
| Knox County Health Clinic – $25,000 | Increased access to care, reduced ER visits, and improved community health. |
| New Hope for Women – $25,000 | Advocacy, prevention and education services to support those affected by domestic violence. |
| One Less Worry – $5,000 | Tens of thousands of pads, tampons, toilet paper, soaps & toothpaste delivered monthly to 1,500+. |
| OUT Maine – $8,000 | Build resilience and improve the lives & futures of at-risk LGBTQ+ youth in Knox & Waldo counties. |
| Parent Program of Mid-Coast Maine – $5,000 | Injury prevention and safety education to parents of children birth to three through home visits. |
| Rockland District Nursing Association – $15,000 | In-home nursing services for seniors living independently in Rockland and nearby communities. |
| Soap Closet – $3,000 | Personal hygiene products not covered by food stamps to low-income families and individuals. |
| Trekkers – $5,000 | Long-term youth mentoring program supporting the social and emotional health of 200 students in Knox County. |
| Volunteers of America Northern New England/Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center – $15,000 | Connecting men leaving incarceration with medication-assisted treatment to reduce recidivism. |
| Waldo County Dental Care – $16,000 | High-quality affordable dental care for 425 low-income children and adults in Waldo & Knox counties. |
ECONOMIC SECURITY
| Belfast Area Child Care Services Inc. – $10,000 | Affordable access to high quality child care for 70 children and 63 families in Waldo County. |
| Penobscot Bay YMCA – $28,000 | The Y creates economic security for working families by providing safe & supervised Childcare & Camp. |
| Restorative Justice Project – $27,000 | Adult/Young Adult Community Conferencing to reduce criminal convictions & retain employability. |
| UMA Rockland Center – $8,000 | UMC Scholarship Awards: one class for 10 first-time or returning students. |
| Waldo Community Action Partners – $20,000 | Utilize and mobilize public and private resources to assist low-income Waldo County residents in the alleviation of poverty and address its underlying causes. |
| Waldo County YMCA – $30,000 | Year round childcare for ages 3 to grade 8. |
| Wayfinder Schools: Passages Program – $10,000 | Enable at-risk youth and teen parents in midcoast Maine to acheive high school completion. |