ROCKPORT — On May 22, Reverend Wendy Anderson of Nativity Lutheran Church, in Rockport, presented a donation of $1250 to Becca Gildred, Development Director of Knox County Homeless Coalition, to support the organization's continued efforts around addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Midcoast Maine. The donation was collected from parishioners during Lent.

“We are so grateful for this generous donation from our friends and neighbors at Nativity Lutheran Church. Private donations make up almost 65% of our total operating budget,” said Gildred, in a Knox County Homeless Coalition news release. “This money will go straight towards the urgent needs facing our community.” 

According to Maine Housing, the number of people in Maine experiencing homelessness almost tripled from 2021 to 2022 with nearly half of those households having at least one child.

Knox County Homeless Coalition (KCHC) breaks cycles of poverty and homelessness through strengths-based programs and services, helping individuals and families achieve sustainable independence and providing the next generation the foundation for a hopeful future. Through collaboration and innovation, they seek to address the root causes of homelessness such as lack of affordable housing.  

Since opening its doors, KCHC has helped more than 2500 people and found permanent housing for over 1100. Nearly half of all those served are children and youth. 

Nativity Lutheran Church is committed to being a positive and loving presence in our world. They seek to share the love of Christ with their neighbors, local communities, and the world through service, learning, and worship, fostering a world in which all people enjoy dignity, well-being, justice, and meaningful lives.