PORTLAND — The John T. Gorman Foundation has awarded 79 grants totaling $1.5 million to provide food, shelter, and other essential services to Mainers in need through its 2024 Direct Services Grant Program.

“The latest numbers show that 42% of Maine households do not earn high enough incomes to cover essential living costs – that includes a third of Maine families with children. The record number of applications we received for this year’s Direct Services Grant Program reflects that incredible need for assistance in securing essentials like food and housing,” said Jennifer Beck, Vice President of Programs for the John T. Gorman Foundation. “With this year’s Direct Services grants, the John T. Gorman Foundation is privileged to be able to strengthen the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are stepping in to fill those unmet needs in our communities,” according to a news release from the foundation.

This year, the foundation awarded half of its Direct Services Grants to organizations focused on food insecurity and housing needs. Additional grants went to fund initiatives that provide health care, legal aid, language assistance, transportation, sexual assault and domestic violence support, and other services.

2024 GRANTEES

Area Interfaith Outreach, Rockland – $15,000
Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, Presque Isle – $20,000
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Bangor – $20,000
Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry, Bethel – $10,000
Caring Unlimited, Sanford – $20,000
Catholic Charities Maine, Portland – $20,000
Center for the Advancement of Rural Living, Caribou – $20,000
CHiP, Inc., Newcastle – $10,000
commonspace (formerly Amistad), Portland – $15,000
Community Care, Bangor – $30,000
Community Dental, Portland – $20,000
Day One, Windham – $20,000
Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Brewer – $25,000
Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church – Bridging the Gap, Augusta – $15,000
Family Planning Association of Maine, Augusta – $15,000
First Congregational Church of Waterville, Maine / Waterville Area Essentials Closet, Waterville – $15,000
FootPrints Food Pantry, Kittery – $20,000
Friends in Action, Ellsworth – $15,000
Greater Portland Family Promise, Portland – $20,000
Hand in Hand, Mano en Mano, Milbridge – $30,000
Harrison Food Bank, Harrison – $10,000
Healthy Acadia, Ellsworth – $15,000
Homeless Services of Aroostook Inc., Presque Isle – $30,000
Ifka Community Services, Lewiston – $5,000
Intercultural Community Center, Westbrook – $20,000
Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, Portland – $20,000
Knox County Homeless Coalition, Rockport – $25,000
Lake Region Senior Service, Bridgton – $12,000
Legal Services for Maine Elders, Augusta – $20,000
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Ellsworth – $20,000
Locker Project, Portland – $15,000
Lubec Community Outreach Center, Lubec – $10,000
Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center, Bangor – $25,000
Machias Area Food Pantry, Machias – $25,000
Maine Association for New Americans, Portland – $25,000
Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augusta – $15,000
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Brunswick – $25,000
Maine Highlands Senior Center, Dover-Foxcroft – $15,000
Maine Medical Center, Portland – $15,000
Maine Multicultural Center, Bangor – $10,000
Maine Needs, Portland – $15,000
Maine School Administrative District 75, Topsham – $20,000
Maine Seacoast Mission, Northeast Harbor – $30,000
Mainely Smiles, Portland – $25,000
MCH, Inc., Rockland – $20,000
Midcoast Community Alliance, Bath – $20,000
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Waterville – $30,000
Milestone Recovery, Portland – $25,000
Neighbors Driving Neighbors, Mount Vernon – $12,000
New Beginnings, Lewiston – $20,000
New England Arab American Organization, Portland – $25,000
New Hope Midcoast, Rockland – $25,000
Next Step Domestic Violence Project, Ellsworth – $20,000
Northern Lighthouse Inc., Presque Isle – $30,000
Oasis Free Clinics, Brunswick – $25,000
Penobscot Community Health Care, Bangor – $25,000
Penquis C.A.P., Inc., Bangor – $20,000
Piscataquis Regional Food Center, Dover Foxcroft – $30,000
Preble Street, Portland – $30,000
Promise Early Education Center, Lewiston – $5,000
Rangeley Health and Wellness, Rangeley – $20,000
River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Rumford – $10,000
Rural Community Action Ministry, Leeds – $17,000
Safe Voices, Auburn – $30,000
Saint Andre Home, Bangor – $25,000
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, Biddeford – $25,000
Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Biddeford – $15,000
St. Luke Food Pantry, Portland – $10,000
Table of Plenty, Berwick – $10,000
The Drop-in Center, Auburn – $5,000
The Root Cellar, Lewiston – $25,000
Trinity Jubilee Center, Lewiston – $15,000
Unitarian Universalist Association, Sanford – $10,000
United Recovery Fund, Portland – $15,000
Unity Barn Raisers, Unity – $15,000
Veterans Inc., Worcester – $25,000
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Inc., Bangor – $10,000
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, Waterville – $15,000
Winthrop Food Pantry, Winthrop – $19,000

Full descriptions of the grants, including counties served, are available at jtgfoundation.org.

The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, with a mission to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive. This focus reflects the recognition of our founder Tom Gorman that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to provide those with fewer advantages opportunities to succeed.

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