AUGUSTA – Kennebec Savings Bank recently named the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services and Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed as the recipients of its 2019 Catalyst Grants. The two $30,000 gifts are designed to support creative concepts that might otherwise not be possible for the nonprofit organizations.
“We are pleased to provide this funding to two nonprofits that directly impact the lives of so many in our community,” said Kennebec Savings Bank President & CEO Andrew Silsby.
The shelter provides safe housing, food, support services and an avenue to self-sufficiency for homeless adults in the greater Waterville community. In the last year, the shelter has served more than 374 individuals in its emergency and day shelter programs, which include the Lunder Homeless Prevention Center and 12 apartments for previously homeless youth ages 18-24.
Until recently, the shelter had to ask guests to leave the facility during the day due to a lack of funding and insufficient kitchen equipment needed to remain open year-round. With the funds from Kennebec Savings Bank, the organization will now be able to provide much-needed kitchen equipment to remain open 24 hours a day and provide three meals.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be recipients of this grant,” said Katie Spencer White, executive director. “These funds will allow us to continue to shelter almost 500 vulnerable people in our community every year. We are also grateful to Kennebec Savings Bank for their commitment to working with us to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.”
The watershed group engages individuals, businesses and the community in the protecting and improving the lakes, ponds and streams of the Cobbossee watershed. Since 2004, it has reached more than 17,000 children through its educational programs. In addition to fee-based educational opportunities, members visits 39 classrooms in eight schools free-of-charge each year.
The group will use the funding to expand its watershed science program to include three new classrooms in their service area. As part of their watershed science program, the “Classroom to Stream” program will bring the life cycle of brook trout into the classroom and allow students to raise the fish from tiny eggs to fry. The expansion of the Friends Watershed Science Program will bring the organization closer to reaching its ultimate goal of giving all students living in the Cobbossee Watershed the opportunity to participate in watershed science education at some point before they graduate from high school.
“Our natural water resources are an integral part of our communities’ identity and economy,” said Executive Director Tamara Whitmore, “and the future health of these resources will lie with the next generation. We are thrilled to have the support of Kennebec Savings Bank to expand our efforts in preparing future decision makers in the protection of our waters.”
The mission of the Catalyst Grant program is to spark creativity and add capacity within local nonprofit organizations, leading to the betterment of the programs and services offered in Kennebec Savings Bank’s service area. Grant recipients are chosen through a competitive application process by an internal selection committee comprised of employees representing different areas of the Bank. Since its inception in 2016, the Catalyst Grant program has awarded $180,000 toward nine projects.
For more information, contact Community Engagement Director Amanda Cooley at ACooley@KennebecSavings.Bank.
PHOTO:Representatives from the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter joined Kennebec Savings Bank Catalyst Grant committee members and other bank officials for a check presentation. (Submitted photo)
