CAMDEN — United Midcoast Charities has awarded $500,000 to 39 nonprofits that address the most basic needs for food, housing, health and safety, and economic security in Knox and Waldo counties.

“Thanks to the strong support from our donors, we not only reached our grantmaking goal this year, we’ll also be able to fully fund our Urgent Needs Grants Fund.” said UMC President John Viehman, in a news release. “That means there will be reserve funding for needs that arise outside our annual grants cycle.”

This year’s award recipients were celebrated at a breakfast reception generously sponsored by the Samoset Resort on September 14. The gathering gave representatives of local nonprofit organizations the opportunity to network with each other and form stronger connections.

“It’s inspiring to see so many agencies gathered together in one place and to feel the exponential impact they have on our friends and neighbors in need here in the Midcoast,” Viehman said.

UMC’s grants committee selected the recipients after a thorough competitive review that spanned four months. The review included numerous onsite visits to local agencies, which continue to face high levels of need.

“Although the Midcoast has returned to some semblance of normalcy, many of our friends and neighbors still face enormous challenges,” said UMC Board Chair Lori Alexander.

“During the height of COVID, we met urgent needs by speeding up our grantmaking process, adding a Rapid Response Fund, and giving our grantees more freedom in the use of our funding. Our successes confirmed the importance of flexibility in addressing today’s needs, and we’re grateful to see that these vital services were maintained throughout the pandemic.”

The following agencies received grants for 2022:

Food — AIO Food & Energy Assistance, Belfast Soup Kitchen, Come Spring Food Pantry, Knox County Gleaners, MCH Inc. Meals on Wheels, No Greater Love Food Pantry, St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen, and The Kindness Programs.

Housing — Coastal Opportunities, Knox County Homeless Coalition, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, and Mid-Coast Recovery Coalition.

Health & Safety — Belfast Public Health Nursing Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, Camden Area District Nursing, Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers, Finding Our Voices, Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County, Knox Clinic, Maine Family Planning, Maine Youth Alliance, MaineHealth Care at Home, New Hope Midcoast, OUT Maine, Rockland District Nursing Association, Sexual Support Assault Services, Soap Closet, Waldo County Dental Care, and Waldo County Woodshed.

Economic Security — Belfast Area Child Care Services Inc., Penobscot Bay YMCA, Penquis CAP-Head Start, Restorative Justice Project, Trekkers, UMA Rockland Center, Waldo Community Action Partners, Waldo County YMCA, Waterman’s Community Center, and Wayfinder Schools – Passages Program.

For further details about the grantees, visit UnitedMidcoastCharities.org/Grantees.

About United Midcoast Charities

United Midcoast Charities, founded in 1942 and celebrating its 80th year, 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 & safety, and economic security. UMC has awarded $2.5 million to more than 50 agencies in the last five years as part of its community-led competitive grants program.