Maine Needs

This is what all-hands-on-deck looks like! In the week leading up to our move we asked for volunteers who wanted to help assemble shelves, racks, dressers, tables, desks and chairs. This is different from our typical volunteer need of sorting donations and filling requests but this community never disappoints. For 4 days, we filled ten 3-hour shifts with handy folks who showed up with tool belts & know-how and who were eager to be part of this new beginning. They dove right into unloading parts and assembling shelving, racks and 17 Ikea dressers. There were teenagers, architects (shoutout @SMRT_ae), engineers (thank you @colbyco.llc), retirees, caseworkers, DIY-ers, contractors (@backyard_adus), mothers with their children and tons of men who saw an opportunity to jump in! The energy of that week is an energy of selflessness, joy and desire to be part of community and we are grateful for not only what so many of you put together, but the way in which you showed up. maineneeds.org

As we continue to settle into our new home, we want to be sure we can continue helping others on their journey to stability, safety and fulfillment for as long as the need exists. We've cultivated such an incredible community here on social media that all it would take is $1 from each person who sees this post to ensure we can keep going for several years. Want to be part of building the future of Maine Needs? Head to https://lnkd.in/ep6QsVRU or drop a buck in our donation box when you come in to volunteer or donate items. We are so grateful for you and looking forward to continuing this work together. 💛

👟Calling everyone! Whether you walk, run, wheel, or stroll, whether you're from Maine or from away, we'd love to have you at our first annual Community Walk.⁠ ⁠ On Saturday, May 24th, we're hosting two events in two Maine towns, open to all and in support of basic needs for all. Come celebrate community while raising funds to help provide individuals and families throughout Maine with the basic material essentials we all need.⁠ ⁠ Both events will have food trucks, a costume contest, and family-friendly activities (stay tuned for more info!).⁠ ⁠ 📍PORTLAND 5K WALK/RUN⁠ Starts at 9am at Payson Park and loops the Back Cove⁠ ⁠ 📍LEWISTON 2-MILE WALK⁠ Starts at 9am at Sunnyside Park⁠ ⁠ Each event will also be hosting a donation drive for some of the Summer's top needed items so please bring along tick spray, sunblock, deodorant and bars of soap!⁠ ⁠ Registration is OPEN now until May 21st. ⁠ $35 and includes a race t-shirt for those who register by May 1st.⁠ $15 for kids under 18⁠ ⁠ Not local? No problem! You can still support this event and participate VIRTUALLY from wherever you may be. All virtual participants will be entered to win a custom Maine Needs Sea Bag ($285 value).⁠ ⁠ We are actively looking for sponsors so if you own a local business and are interested in being part of this event, please reach out!⁠ If you have connections to food trucks that operate in Lewiston, please let us know! We are seeking two for the morning of May 24th.⁠ ⁠ LINKS TO REGISTER AT maineneeds.org/walk

We are so grateful to L.L. Bean (@llbean) for helping outfit our new space with shelving that will last for years to come. Maine Needs is a community effort and this donation really highlights what's possible when everyone contributes what they can. maineneeds.org

We get requests for so many families who are struggling to afford the most basic daily essentials for themselves and their little ones. We all deserve to build the family we want in this life but for too many, there are barriers that make it nearly impossible. One's ability to have children shouldn't be determined by their access to income, especially since lack of access is often a consequence of systemic oppression. What did we miss on this list? Add more in the comments! And check out and support the work of local organizations that work to advance the rights and well-being of ALL Maine families: @mainechildrensalliance @maineequaljustice @mainefamilyplanning @mewomenslobby

After working on settling into our new space, we've found there are a bunch of things we need to keep Maine Needs operating. In an effort to keep donation dollars focused on the material needs of the community, we're asking for your help stocking up on the behind-the-scenes items that keep things moving around here. We've put together a wish list of items we use daily. If you're interested in supporting the behind-the-scenes of it all, you can order from the list to ship to us directly OR use the list as a guide to shop locally. Or, if you have any of these items NEW at your home or office that you can pass along, please bring them to us during our weekly donation hours next week. Please refer to the list as our needs are specific. ✨️Wish list at the link below! https://lnkd.in/ghytNaTH ✨️SHIP TO: 2385 Congress Street Portland ME 04102 ✨️WEEKLY DONATION HOURS (CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 29!) Sun-Thurs 10am-1pm Tuesday 6pm-8pm Thank you for helping Maine Needs thrive!

If you want to do something positive with your kids this vacation week, set aside some time to make kits! Choose one from our website, go shopping for what's needed and assemble together. Kit making provides a great opportunity to talk to your kids about the importance of supporting others and gives them the chance to make a difference in someone's life. maineneeds.org/kits *Please note, we are closed for donations until Tuesday, April 29th so if you make kits, please wait til next week to bring them in!

A friendly Earth Day reminder that despite the absolute abundance of clothing on this planet, there are people in your community who don't have access to clean underwear, clothes that fit, warm jackets or reliable shoes. Maine Needs aims to connect what is no longer being used by one with someone who really needs it. And it's not just clothing. We take gently used household items like bedding and basic kitchenware, winter gear, kid's toys & books, baby gear, school supplies, and more! We can all do our small part by passing along what we're no longer using to someone else. If you have a closet full of clothing you barely wear or bins full of items you've forgotten about, take some time to sort through and pull your high-quality, gently used basic essentials to donate. We're closed for donations this week but will be reopening on Tuesday, April 29th & would love to see you! maineneeds.org/donations

Did you know that there will be a judged costume contest at our Portland event on Saturday, May 24th? We're excited to have authors Richard Russo and Ron Currie, Jr. join us as guest judges! We encourage you to get as creative as you'd like! Prizes TBA.✨️ If you haven't signed up to participate in the first annual Community Walk/Run event taking place in Portland & Lewiston, head over to our website for all the info & registration links. Register before May 1st to get an event tee! This event is open to everyone! We can't wait to see you for a morning of building community in the spirit of solidarity. maineneeds.org/walk

Sufficient funding helps ensure that shelters can run efficiently, safely and in a way that helps people gain stability to move forward. At a time when funding is already tight, personal budgets are stretched thin and the demand for affordable housing still far outweighs the supply, a decrease in operating dollars could cause people to lose access to essential support. Until everyone has access to stable housing and supportive services, emergency shelters will need more funding, not less. article via @portlandpressherald