BANGOR, Maine - A food pantry, a hospice house, a summer camp for children with life-threatening illnesses, and a homeless shelter - just some of the organizations that matter most to Mainers and Granite Staters who voted in the 2020 Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s
Community Matters More program.
Since its inception in 2007, the Community Matters More program has distributed almost $1.5 million to more than 500 organizations. The program started to support the nonprofits that play a crucial role in everyday life and has steadily grown through the years.
“We understand that each community we serve has unique needs,” said Bangor Savings Bank President and CEO Bob Montgomery-Rice. “With the guidance of thousands of voters, we are excited to contribute to the strength and health of our communities through these non-profits.”
More than 45,000 votes were submitted; the top two vote-getters in eleven regions across Maine and New Hampshire received a $5,000 grant while thirty-three other organizations each received a $1,000 grant. In all, $143,000 was awarded to 55 nonprofit organizations.
“We look forward to seeing to what each Community Matters More grant recipient does to positively impact their community in Maine or New Hampshire,” said Montgomery-Rice. “And we appreciate and value all they do to help make Northern New England a wonderful place to live and work.”
2020 COMMUNITY MATTERS MORE RECIPIENTS
$5,000 Grants
MAINE
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties
Black Mountain of Maine, Rumford
Maine Huts and Trails, Kingfield
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties
Katahdin Area Trails, Millinocket
Pine Tree Hospice, Dover-Foxcroft
Cumberland County
Camp Sunshine, Casco
Old Dogs New Digs, Cumberland
Hancock/Washington Counties
Community Closet, Ellsworth
H.O.M.E. Inc., Orland
Kennebec/Somerset Counties
Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers, Waterville
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Waterville
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties
Pay It Forward For Kids, Inc., Searsport
Waldo County Pet Food Pantry, Belfast
Southern Penobscot County
Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, Bangor
Sarah’s House of Maine, Holden
York County
Animal Welfare Society, Kennebunk
Vet to Vet Maine, Saco
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Coos/Carroll/Grafton Counties
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways, Union
North Conway Public Library, North Conway
Belknap/Cheshire/Hillsborough/Merrimack/Sullivan Counties
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua, Nashua
Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, Concord
Rockingham/Strafford Counties
The Chase Home for Children, Portsmouth
Hero Pups, Stratham
$1,000 Grants
MAINE
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties
Community Concepts, Lewiston
Tri County Mental Health, Lewiston
Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, Lewiston
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties
Moosehead Lake Regional Economic Development Corporation, Greenville
Piscataquis Regional Food Center, Dover-Foxcroft
Nibezun, Passadumkeag
Cumberland County
Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine, Portland
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, Scarborough
Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, Windham
Hancock/Washington Counties
Down East Family YMCA, Ellsworth
Healthy Acadia, Ellsworth
Bagaduce River Equine Rescue, Brooksville
Kennebec/Somerset Counties
Alfond Youth & Community Center, Waterville
Hospice Volunteers of Waterville, Waterville
Somerset Humane Society, Skowhegan
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties
MCH Meals on Wheels, Rockland
Waterfall Arts, Belfast
No Greater Love Food Pantry, Belfast
Southern Penobscot County
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor, Bangor
Windy Warrior – Adrenaline Therapy Program, Bangor
Newport Cultural Center, Newport
York County
Age Friendly Saco, Saco
Foundation4Love, Kennebunk
Engine Biddeford, Biddeford
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Coos/Carroll/Grafton Counties
Coos Economic Development Corp, Lancaster
Tillotson Center, Colebrook
Cohos Historical Society, Stratford
Belknap/Cheshire/Hillsborough/Merrimack/Sullivan Counties
Riverbend Community Mental Health, Concord
Society for the Protection of NH Forests, Concord
Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps, Nashua
Rockingham/Strafford Counties
Pease Greeters, Portsmouth
Seacoast Youth Services, Seabrook
New Hampshire SPCA, Stratham
Learn more about the Community Matters More grant program
here.