2026 Community Matters More Winners

Bangor Savings Bank Foundation   Community Matters More a Program of The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation

Your vote mattered. Thank you!

The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation believes in giving back to our communities, and we believe that by focusing on the needs that matter most to our neighbors and friends, we matter more in the daily lives of our fellow community members. Congratulations to the 2026 Community Matters More grant recipients!


$5,000 Grant Recipients

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Auburn, ME
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties


Houlton Humane Society, Houlton, ME
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties


Maine Needs, Portland, ME
Cumberland County


The Messenger Animal Rescue, Harrington, ME
Hancock/Washington Counties


Skowhegan Community Food Cupboard, Skowhegan, ME
Kennebec/Somerset Counties


Maine Farmland Trust, Belfast, ME
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties


Maine Veterans Project, Bangor, ME
Southern Penobscot County


Vet2Vet Maine, Biddeford, ME
York County


45th Parallel Emergency Medical Services, Colebrook, NH
Coos/Carroll/Grafton Counties


Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, Bedford, NH
Belknap/Cheshire/Hillsborough/Merrimack/Sullivan Counties


Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, Portsmouth, NH 
Rockingham/Strafford Counties


$3,500 Grant Recipients

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation, Newry, ME
Tree Street Youth, Lewiston, ME
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties


Katahdin Area Trails (OSI), Millinocket, ME
Piscataquis Regional Food Center, Dover‑Foxcroft, ME
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties


Ember's Paws of Hope, Steep Falls, ME
Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute, Portland, ME
Cumberland County


Camp CaPella, Dedham, ME 
The Grand Theater, Ellsworth, ME
Hancock/Washington Counties


Augusta Teen Center Boys & Girls Clubs, Augusta, ME
State YMCA Camp of Maine, Winthrop, ME
Kennebec/Somerset Counties


AIO Food & Energy Assistance, Rockland, ME
New Hope Midcoast, Rockland, ME
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties


Empty Arms of Greater Bangor, Bangor, ME
Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor, ME
Southern Penobscot County


Caring Unlimited, Sanford, ME
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, Biddeford, ME
York County


Helping Hands North, Colebrook, NH
Two Rivers Relief for Cancer, Colebrook, NH
Coos/Carroll/Grafton Counties


Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support Services Inc., Nashua, NH
Thrive Survivor Support Center, Concord, NH
Belknap/Cheshire/Hillsborough/Merrimack/Sullivan Counties


The Chase Home, Portsmouth, NH
The Upper Room, Derry, NH
Rockingham/Strafford Counties


$2,500 Write-In Grant Recipients

Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, Lewiston, ME
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties

 

Halfway Home Pet Rescue, Caribou, ME 
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties

 

Maine State Music Theatre, Brunswick, ME 
Cumberland County

 

Bagaduce River Equine Rescue, Brooksville, ME 
Hancock/Washington Counties

 

Steve’s Heroes Foundation, Waterville, ME 
Kennebec/Somerset Counties

 

Safe Harbor Sanctuary, Brooks, ME
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties

 

The Courageous Steps Project, Milford, ME 
Southern Penobscot County

 

Saco Meals Program, Saco, ME
York County

 

Weathervane Theatre, Whitefield, NH
Coos/Carroll/Grafton Counties

 

Home Health & Hospice Care, Merrimack, NH 
Belknap/Cheshire/Hillsborough/Merrimack/Sullivan Counties

 

New Hampshire SPCA, Stratham, NH
Rockingham/Strafford Counties

Special Thanks

The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation acknowledges the generous contributions of promotional support to the Community Matters More program from:

WDEA AM1370 A Downeast Tradition
Townsquare Media Bangor
Community Matters More is the signature philanthropic program of The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation.