Brunswick, May 24 – Fourteen local initiatives benefiting women, children, and families have received a total of $104,000 in grants from the Maine Women’s Giving Tree, a tax-exempt charity based in Brunswick.
Representatives of the non-profit award-winning organizations were honored today at a ceremony held at the Highland Green Community Center in Topsham. Since awarding its first grants in 2012, the Giving Tree has contributed nearly $600,000 in grants to dozens of local organizations to support programs benefiting women, children, and families.
We are a group of women with a shared commitment to support outstanding initiatives that benefit women, children and families in the communities where we live,? said Jane Fenderson Cabot of Harpswell, the group’s president. We’re thrilled that our grant awards for 2023 represent the largest annual total amount of giving in our history.
The 15 local grant recipients are:
ArtVan–$7,675 to support on-site mobile art therapy for under-resourced youth, ages 3-17, who live at Hyde Park and Maritime Apartments in Bath and at Perryman Village in Brunswick.
Bath Area Family YMCA-$8,250 supplies healthy snacks to the 40-60 participants who experience food insecurity in the Y’s drop-in Teen Time program after school, on weekends, and througout the summer.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick–$6,6750 supports the cost of volunteer mentor and parent/guardian background reference checks and training during the initial interview and re-screening process for approximately 70 matches between Bigs and Littles in the School, Site, and Community-Based mentoring programs.
Freeport Community Services- $5675 to support funds for food and supplies for the Freeport and Pownal Community Food Program, through its Food Pantry. Freeport Community BackPack Program providing weekend food bags, and the Summer Snacks program providing staples, fresh produce, and dairy products to take home.
The Gathering Place–$5,175 to support the Direct Service Delivery Program of the only daytime shelter in Greater Brunswick, helping to ensure that no community member falls through the cracks but receives needed assistance, including emergency housing and healthcare.
Growing to Give–$5,675 in continued funding to support an organic grow-for-donation Farm Program in Brunswick to address food insecurity, build community among volunteers, and provide educational opportunities.
Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers–$10,000 for its Critical Home Repair Program, which annually assists over 100 local homeowners(many who are female heads of household and low-income older adults), in the Midcoast area with repairs, weatherizing, and home modifications needed to help them remain in their homes.
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program–$9,250 supports the Youth Services Programs for elementary, middle, and high school students and their families who are facing food insecurity in our area.
Midcoast Literacy–$4,0925 will sustain and strengthen the Read Together program, which offers year-round one-on-one tutoring services for children ages 6-14 who are below grade level in literacy related subjects in school and/or are English language learners. Students are provided free books and materials, and instruction by trained volunteer tutors.
MidCoast Youth Center & Skatepark–$8,175 to support direct costs of basic needs (including clothing, haircuts, toiletries, and sports gear) for more than 55 homeless youth in local school districts through the Merrymeeting Support Collaborative for Youth Experiencing Homelessness program.
People Plus Brunswick Area Teen Center– Sustaining funds are sought to support the needs of the 285 low-income and at-risk youth ages 11-18 (grades 6-12) who participate in the free activities at the Brunswick Area Teen Center, by increasing the purchase of food to provide full dinners and healthy snacks, toiletries (hygiene products), transportation to and from the Teen Center for those who otherwise could not participate and to outside events, and four scholarships for driver’s education classes.
Pine Tree Society – 8,175 for expansion of the grantee’s Audiology program to offer hearing evaluations for infants (ages 0-2) for the first time in its Bath location. Hearing evaluations for infants under 2 is a specialized service currently offered in only 3 cities in Maine. Funds would help purchase a hearing booth needed for the new specialized equipment required to service approximately 200 pediatric hearing evaluations annually.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England–$11,500 for the Reproductive Health Care for low-income Patients program at the Topsham/Brunswick Health Center.
Tedford Housing–$5,000 in ongoing funding for its Breaking Down Barriers fund which helps women, girls, and families gain and maintain permanent housing. Funds may be used for birth certificates and application fees, phone cards, car maintenance, and gas cards for interviews.
Founded in 2009 by two local women, the Maine Women’s Giving Tree is a grant-making organization of women with a shared commitment to improve the lives of other women, children, and families living in our area. Giving Tree members pool their contributions and vote every year on how to distribute these funds.
The organization is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity by the Internal Revenue Service.
