NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS – UNITED WAY OF EASTERN MAINE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS
BANGOR--United Way of Eastern Maine (UWEM) is requesting proposals from community-based teams that are helping communities prepare for winter heating cost challenges. Qualifying community-based projects include educational meetings, neighborhood watch groups, winterization, furnace repair, warming centers, food/fuel/healthcare assistance, alternative heating solutions and local winter preparation education.
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors small grant fund was created to engage and mobilize community groups, organizations, local governments, faith-based groups, individuals, schools, and businesses to address the challenging energy issues in ways that meet specific community needs. The grant concept came from discussions with Governor Baldacci’s Emergency Energy Task Force regarding the need for localized and community-specific efforts to manage the challenges facing those most at risk this winter.
The small grant fund is possible through generous donations from the Maine Community Foundation and the Eastern Maine Funders. Eastern Maine Funders is a collaboration of foundations, corporate donors, individuals and grantors. United Way of Eastern Maine is the administrator for the more than $1,150,000 dollars raised since 2005 to fund the Eastern Maine Funders’ Energy Initiatives.
“United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities,” said Kathy Crossman, UWEM vice president of community impact. “These small grant funds will support that mission in a direct manner.”
Small grant funds are available to communities within the United Way of Eastern Maine region - Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington Counties. The maximum grant amount is $2,500 and requires matching funds on a 1:1 cash basis or 2:1 cash-in-kind basis. To apply, please download a copy of the application. To make a donation to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund, call United Way of Eastern Maine at (207) 941-2800 and ask for Kathy Crossman.
