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WATERVILLE — The Waterville Rotary Club recently awarded mini grants to eight local organizations that are addressing food insecurity or lack of essentials in central Maine.
This is the second year that the club has awarded the grants. When the pandemic struck, club members became increasingly concerned not only about the impact to area residents, but also to the organizations doing the front-line work ensuring that individuals and families have resources to tap into when they are struggling.
Each year the club raises thousands of dollars to reinvest in the community, with $10,000 designated for a project chosen by the club president. President Jeff Melanson worked with the club’s Community Services Committee to select a focus area. Based on the ongoing need in the community, coupled with the success of the mini grant program last year, the decision was made to allocate the presidential funds and an additional $2,000 from the committee’s budget to the program this year.
“It was clear from our members and the community that people are continuing to have problems making ends meet,” Melanson said. “So often it is the food budget that gets slashed. Food is such a necessity, one that so many of us take for granted. It just seemed like a meaningful way for us to provide direct support to our neighbors.”
Michele Prince, Community Services chair, added, “We are so grateful to all of the people, many who volunteer hundreds of hours, who are finding ways to provide assistance that touches so many lives and we are honored to support their efforts.”
Grants were awarded to:
Winslow Community Cupboard
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
Alfond Youth and Community Center
Starfish Village
Northern Light/Inland Hospital
Mid-Maine Technical Center
Waterville Area Essentials Closet
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen
Bruce Bottigliere, of Winslow Community Cupboard, reflected the reaction of all the organizations, saying, “Your kindness, compassion and generosity are helping us address the needs of food-insecure children, seniors and other adults in Winslow and the surrounding towns during these particularly challenging times.”
For more information about the Waterville Noontime Rotary, visit the website at watervillerotary.com.
TOP PHOTO: Jeff Melanson, Waterville Rotary; Kris Coteau and Michelle Still, MMTC; Tanya Fosset, Mid-Maine Technical Center; Abbie Charrier, Alfond Youth and Community Center; Michele Prince, Waterville Rotary. BELOW: John Dalton and Michele Prince, Waterville Rotary; Bruce Bottiglierie and Kristi Letourneau, Winslow Community Cupboard. BOTTOM: Melanson; Natalia Hall, Northern Light Inland Hospital; Carla Caron, Waterville Area Soup Kitchen; the Rev. Maureen Ausbrook, Starfish Villa. (Submitted photos)
