Gorman Foundation awards $500K to 11 Maine nonprofits providing food, shelter

Courtesy / John T. Gorman Foundation Bangor Boys and Girls Club was one of 11 social service organizations receiving $500,000 in COVID-19 response grants from the John T. Gorman Foundation in Portland. Located in Bangor Housing’s Capehart development, the club distribues food to low-income children and families.

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By Staff

As part of its COVID-19 response, the John T. Gorman Foundation in Portland is awarding $500,000 in grants to 11 Maine nonprofits working to provide food and shelter to Mainers in need during the pandemic.

“Our nonprofit community is doing incredible work to help Mainers struggling to meet basic needs during the COVID-19 outbreak,” the foundation’s president and CEO, Tony Cipollone, said in a news release. “This especially includes people experiencing homelessness, who are unable to shelter in place, and the many children, families and seniors at risk of going hungry.”

The funds are expected to have an immediate impact in helping grantees strengthen and expand efforts already underway to provide food and shelter for Mainers.

“As the longer-term effects of the outbreak become clear in the months ahead, the foundation will continue looking for the most impactful ways to support the systems and organizations that Maine children, older youth, families, and seniors depend on,” Cipollone said.

Grants to provide shelter

Preble Street Resource Center, Portland – $75,000
New Beginnings, Lewiston – $50,000
Shaw House, Bangor – $50,000
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Bangor – $25,000
Tedford Housing, Brunswick – $25,000
York County Shelter Program, Alfred – $25,000

Grants to distribute food

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Auburn – $100,000
Wayside Food Programs, Portland – $50,000
Southern Maine Boys and Girls Club, Portland – $50,000
Boys and Girls Club of Bangor, Bangor – $25,000
St. Mary's Nutrition Center, Lewiston – $25,000

In addition to these COVID-19 response grants, the foundation also extended its deadline for nonprofits to apply for its 2020 Direct Services Grant Program to April 15, and plans to streamline the review process to ensure the funds are quickly distributed. The grants of up to $25,000 support the efforts of nonprofits to help low-income Mainers meet immediate, basic needs.

About the John T. Gorman Foundation

John T. Gorman, known as Tom, was a grandson of L.L. Bean and established the foundation in 1995 to help disadvantaged Mainers. In recent years, the independent, statewide foundation has moved to focus strategically on four key areas: improving educational achievement for children; promoting successful transitions to adulthood for vulnerable older youth; helping struggling parents to support their families and enabling low-income seniors to remain in their homes as long as possible.