Island Institute is one of five Maine organizations receiving donations from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust's "Casual for a Cause" second quarter 2026 employee-driven charitable giving program. Eleven organizations serving communities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will share more than $26,000 in donations.

Based in Rockland, the Island Institute works with local leaders to build community sustainability and share solutions for the coast’s most pressing issues, from resilient energy to the future of fishing. 

“Island Institute is honored to be chosen by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees through the Casual for a Cause program,” said Kim Hamilton, President of Island Institute, in a news release. “Together, we’re investing in the future of Maine’s island and coastal communities — supporting working waterfronts, local leaders, and innovative solutions that keep our coast strong and our communities thriving.”

The other Maine recipients are Common Good Soup Kitchen, Island Community Center, Manufacturer’s Association of Maine, and Schoodic Institute.

Casual for a Cause participants dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected each quarter. The program participants then vote on which community organizations will receive the funds collected the previous quarter. More than $519,000 has been donated since the program began in 2018.

“It’s amazing to think how my Bar Harbor Bank & Trust colleagues’ commitment to Casual for a Cause has already resulted in more than half a million dollars going to community organizations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont,” said Jack Frost, VP Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “This is a milestone we can and should celebrate, and a beautiful reminder of what we can accomplish together.”

The Common Good Soup Kitchen, located in Southwest Harbor, provides food and friendship to all individuals in the Mount Desert Island Community. The regular programs include the food pantry, grocery delivery, and hot lunches and community dinners in the winter.

“We are so thankful to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for all their support to our soup kitchen. They come for lunches we serve, they volunteer to prepare our meals, they set up collection bins when we have food drives, they are a familiar face when going to the bank,” said Debi Estep, Executive Director of Common Good Soup Kitchen. “And on top of all that, they still gave a generous donation through their Casual for a Cause, an employee-led program.”

The Island Community Center in Stonington strives to provide facilities and programs — including favorites such as Camp Kooky, senior arts, Coffee Connections, and DIS Youth Sports — for all members of the community to enhance their well-being, socially, emotionally, and physically.

“It means a great deal to receive the Casual for a Cause grant from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, and it’s especially meaningful to be recognized by the Bar Harbor employees who are a part of our community,” said Jeannie Hatch, Director of Island Community Center. “Their support helps us continue offering the programs that are loved by all — all of which bring people together and strengthen the wellbeing of children, families, and seniors across the island.”

The Manufacturers Association of Maine is a nonprofit comprised of more than 200 member organizations that serves its members by providing development support and promoting careers for young people through education, scholarships, and networking.

“We're honored to be selected by the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust through their Casual for a Cause program,” said John Lewis, Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of Maine. “Their generosity helps us continue expanding workforce initiatives, supporting manufacturers across Maine, and creating opportunities that strengthen our state's economy.”

The mission of Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park is inspiring science, learning, and community for a changing world.

“A big thank you to the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for selecting Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park as a recipient of their Casual for a Cause program. This support enables us to engage people of all ages in conservation science and develop solutions that protect the natural resources of coastal Maine for generations to come,” said Nick Fisichelli, President & CEO of Schoodic Institute.

Also recieving donations are:

 New Hampshire

o Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley

o Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice

o REACH Crisis Services

 Vermont

o Alzheimer’s Association Vermont Chapter

o Our House of Central Vermont

o Williamstown Food Shelf