CAMDEN — The recent sale of a watercolor by Maine artist Eric Hopkins has added $5,850 to the United Midcoast Charities Rapid Response Fund (RRF), which provides stopgap support for local nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The top bidder for “Big Sun Big Sun Across the Bay #2” at Thomaston Auctions acquired a beautiful work of art while benefiting the local community, according to UMC, in a news release.

“We are deeply grateful to Eric and Thomaston Auctions for assisting UMC build up our safety net for helping individuals and families in direct need of food, housing, and other services,” said UMC President Betsy Saltonstall. “We expect these needs to grow as the weather grows colder, so it’s wonderful to have received the proceeds from this sale. We encourage other artists and art owners to talk with us about future auction opportunities.”

Complete details about the RRF and RRF grantees is available at unitedmidcoastcharities.org/rrf. 

United Midcoast Charities, founded in 1942, is a 501c3 community-supported nonprofit whose mission is to energize Midcoast Maine nonprofit agencies through finance and guidance, supporting a network of resources stronger than any single organization. 

UMC’s primary areas of focus are food, housing, health and safety, and economic security. In the last five years, UMC has awarded grants totaling $2.4 million to more than 50 agencies as part of their community-led competitive grants program.

For more information, visit www.unitedmidcoastcharities.org.