Environmental protection, food security, and crisis support are examples of the services offered by the Maine- and New Hampshire-based nonprofits selected by the public to receive grant awards. Those awards came through the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s 2022 Community Matters More program, according to a news release from the foundation.
With thousands of community votes shared, $158,000 will be awarded across 45 nonprofit organizations in 11 regions. The organization with the highest number of votes in each region will receive a $5,000 grant. Runners up and write-in winners will receive grant awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.
As the signature program of the bank’s foundation, Community Matters More aims to highlight local nonprofits that are positively impacting their Maine and New Hampshire communities. It does so by inviting residents of these communities to decide the grant winners through a public vote.
In honor of its 15-year anniversary, the foundation also awarded a one-time special grant of $15,000 to the organization that garnered the most overall votes. That winner is Sarah’s House of Maine, an organization that provides temporary lodging in a comfortable environment for cancer patients and their caregivers.
The 2022 Community Matters More grant recipients are:
Maine
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford counties
Franklin Animal Shelter, $5,000 / Center for Wisdom’s Women, $4,000 / Androscoggin Land Trust, $3,000 / Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, $1,000 write-in winner.
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis counties
PAWS of Milo Penquis Animal Welfare Sanctuary, $5,000 / Millinocket Memorial Library — Gear Library, $4,000 / Greenville Junction Depot Friends, $3,000 / Halfway Home Pet Rescue, $1,000 write-in winner.
Cumberland County
Make-A-Wish Maine, $5,000 / WinterKids, $4,000 / Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine, $3,000 / MSSPA Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, $1,000 write-in winner.
Hancock/Washington counties
Hancock County SPCA, $5,000 / Camp CaPella, $4,000 / Downeast Horizons, $3,000 / Bagaduce River Equine Rescue, $1,000 write-in winner.
Kennebec/Somerset counties
Humane Society Waterville Area, $5,000 / Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center, $4,000 / Augusta Food Bank, $3,000 / Jackman Region Community Association, $1,000 write-in winner.
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo counties
Knox County Homeless Coalition, $5,000 / Caring for Kids, $4,000 / Neighbor’s Cupboard, $3,000 / Window Dressers, $1,000 write-in winner.
Southern Penobscot County
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, $5,000 / Eastern Area Agency on Aging, $4,000 / Courageous Steps Project, $3,000 write-in winner / Bangor Humane Society, $1,000 write-in winner.
York County
Center for Wildlife, $5,000 / Rett’s Roost, $4,000 / Special Surfers, $3,000 write-in winner / Foundation4Love, $1,000.
New Hampshire
Coos/Carroll/Grafton counties
Coos Animal Sanctuary, $5,000 / Warriors at 45 North, $4,000 / Child Advocacy Center of Coos County, $3,000 / Weathervane Theatre, $1,000 write-in winner.
Belknap/Cheshire/Hillsborough/Merrimack/Sullivan counties
Animal Rescue League of NH, $5,000 / Granite State Dog Recovery, $4,000 write-in winner) / Building Dreams for Marines, $3,000 / Friends Program, $1,000.
Rockingham/Strafford counties
Seacoast Youth Services, $5,000 / Gundalow Company, $4,000 / Portsmouth Historical Society, $3,000 / Our Place Inc., $1,000 write-in winner.
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