BELFAST — Your vote counted. Several weeks ago, as part of its Community Matters More grant initiative, Bangor Savings Bank tallied more than 86,000 online votes for the state’s 3,391 nonprofit organizations. Sixty-eight nonprofits in eight regions were awarded $1,000 grants, and the top voter-getter in each region, which included Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County, received a $5,000 grant. The grant totals were equal to $100,000. Nonprofits in this region included Knox,Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Waldo counties.

Nonprofits in the Midcoast region awarded $1,000 each included Harbor Family Services, Knox County Health Clinic, People for People, Ragged Mountain Recreation Area Foundation, Camden Snow Bowl and Unity Barnraisers.

Write-in nonprofits were also allowed on the balloting and received a $1,000 grant, as well. Those receiving the highest balloting were Belfast Free Library, Meals on Wheels –Knox and Pope Memorial Humane Society.

To qualify the organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) and their programs must be open to all (secular). The organization must be Maine-based, or with operating offices in Maine.

The Bangor Savings Bank foundation was established in 1997 to help fulfill a commitment to improving community life in Maine.

In a statement released from Bangor Savings Bank said: “Both the number of votes cast and the number of nonprofit organizations receiving support reflect the commitment of Maine people to their communities and the importance of nonprofits. The valuable work these nonprofits organizations do to support everything from arts to food security to the environment help make Maine a better place to live.”