People all across Maine are coming together to coordinate grocery shopping, pharmacy pick up, and daily check-in calls with older people who are not able to get out during this crisis. We continue to compile local community efforts so that service providers of all kinds can more easily find the services older people need during this crisis.
If you are part of a local community effort addressing the needs of older adults, please take a moment by taking the survey here: Click here to take the survey.
Please see the list below (in alphabetical order).
Arundel
Services Provided: Offering a food pantry with fresh food and weekly delivery. They also offer delivery of personal care items and groceries, and can attend to some more specific needs, such as help with bills or care services.
Service Area: Arundel
Contact: Town General Assistance officers: phone 207.985.4201 ext. 113; ga@arundelmaine.org
Belmont
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Belmont
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Blue Hill Peninsula
Services Provided: Volunteers are available for grocery shopping and delivery, prescription pick-up and delivery, delivery of other essentials, and providing friendly calls. Hosting a weekly Zoom call for community partners to share needs, resources, ideas. Regularly updating COVID-19 local community resources page on www.healthypeninsula.org. Partnering with the local food pantry to relieve older volunteers and deliver food boxes. Partnering with Blue Hill hot meal site (The Simmering Pot) to re-open with new volunteers and possibly new cooking site, for delivery and pick-up.
Service Area: Blue Hill Peninsula & Deer Isle/Stonington
Contact: Anne Schroth (207) 374-3257, leave a message. aschroth@healthypeninsula.org
Bridgton/Harrison
Services Provided: A direct phone line to the Local Health Officer so anyone can call with any questions. They also have a list of local service volunteers. They are providing free lunch pick-up for children in school, and they are making courtesy calls to older adults.
Service Area: Bridgton & Harrison
Contact: The Local Health Officer; Healthofficer@bridgtonmaine.org
Bucksport
Services Provided: PAY IT FORWARD BUCKSPORT PROGRAM
This program was approved by the Town Council at its meeting on Thursday, April 2nd. Its purpose is to help provide a bridge for residents who have lost jobs and small businesses who have lost business or been forced to close until State and Federal programs become available. The Town is fortunate to have the funds to do this because of the decades of sound fiscal management by its elected officials. Original amounts in the proposal were $100 for food gift cards per household and $500 per small business owner. A generous donation by former Bucksport residents Andrew and Shelby Silvernail have allowed us to increase those amounts to $150 for food gift cards and $600 for business grants. We have also eliminated the senior meals program fee for Bucksport Residents through the Senior Citizens Center during this state of emergency. The Town will be providing $7500 donations to Bucksport Community Concerns and an equal amount to HOME, Inc. for their work to provide food and other needs during pandemic, an increase of $2500 each thanks to the generosity of the Silvernails.
To qualify for these programs, you must meet the following guidelines:
Food Gift Card Program – You must have been a Bucksport resident from March 1, 2020 forward, and you must have been laid off or had your hours significantly reduced during the state of emergency due to the COVID 19 pandemic. It is one gift card per household. This is a pay it forward program and we ask you to commit to doing something good in return for participating in this program and sending us information or a photo showing what that was so that we can post it on our FB page in the hope that it inspires others to do good works in the community.
Small Business Grant Program – You must have had a small business in Bucksport during this state of emergency and either been forced to close or seen a reduction in revenues associated with the state of emergency of 25% of more. In this program also we ask recipients to do something good and send us a photo or note so that we can post it on our Facebook page and website to inspire others to do good works in the community.
The day after the Town Council approved the Pay It Forward Program the number of requests for home-delivered meals from the Bucksport Senior Center more than doubled. Total meals served want from 35/day three times/week to more than 100/day 3x/week. Such a response certainly verifies the need for no-cost meals for older adults.
Contact: Phone: (207) 469-7368 or contact us
Calais
Services Provided: Volunteer delivery and pick up if necessary, to limit social exposure to those most vulnerable in our community.
Service Area: Calais
Contact: City Building Staff; 207-454-2521; manager@calaismaine.org
Cape Elizabeth
Services Provided: The Cape Elizabeth Police Department is making sure to check in on older adults amid the coronavirus concerns. Officers have made hundreds of calls to seniors in the community to make sure they have a way to get items including food and medication while they social distance.
Service Area: Cape Elizabeth
Contact: (207)767-3323 or Paul.Fenton@capeelizabeth.org
China
Services Provided: China’s China For A Lifetime Committee has instituted China Food Delivery. They will pick up and deliver prepaid orders from Walmart and Hannaford. Delivery drivers practice good hand hygiene and social distancing.
Service Area: Town of China
Contact: Call 458-8203 and leave a message or email ChinaForaLifetime@gmail.com
Danforth
Services Provided: Delivery of groceries, prescriptions, meals on wheels, and caring calls
Service Area: Town of Danforth (now currently able to do 15 mile radius)
Contact: Please call the Danforth Town Office 207-448-2321 townofdanforth@gmail.com or danforthlivablecomm@gmail.com
Deer Isle/Stonington
Services Provided: Volunteers are available for grocery shopping and delivery, prescription pick-up and delivery, delivery of other essentials, and providing friendly calls. Hosting a weekly Zoom call for community partners to share needs, resources, ideas. Regularly updating COVID-19 local community resources page on www.healthypeninsula.org. Partnering with the local food pantry to relieve older volunteers and deliver food boxes. Partnering with Blue Hill hot meal site (The Simmering Pot) to re-open with new volunteers and possibly new cooking site, for delivery and pick-up.
Service Area: Blue Hill Peninsula & Deer Isle/Stonington
Contact: Anne Schroth (207) 374-3257, leave a message. aschroth@healthypeninsula.org
Dexter
Services Provided: Snow Shoveling for seniors, sand delivery for ice, meals on wheels for seniors
Service Area: Town of Dexter
Contact: General Assistance Department, Town Manager, (207) 924-7351
Ellsworth
Services Provided: We offer a friendly call in program where older citizens typically who live alone can call in daily. If we do not receive a call we will call them or send an officer to check on them.
Service Area: City of Ellsworth
Contact: The Ellsworth Police Department Chief Glenn Moshier 207-667-2168 or gmoshier@ellsworthmaine.gov
Eliot
Services Provided: Eliot Strong Facebook group has gained 700+ members in one week. We are calling all Eliot seniors 75 years old plus. Providing a Community Helper as a contact person for arranging food/medicine pick up/delivery. Our page is a resource for parents schooling at home, folks looking for help of any sort (food pantry etc). Legislative updates on unemployment and other issues folks are concerned with. We are connecting folks with needs with those that can help.
Service Area: Eliot
Contact: 603 834 8549. Michelevmeyer@gmail.com
Falmouth
Services Provided: Food and Critical Supply Needs (prescription drugs, toilet paper, etc.), phone call check-ins from FCP staff to older adults in the community, Falmouth Police Department Reassurance Program, Delivery Service Options from Local Businesses (restaurants and pharmacies), Personal Assistance with Town Services (tax payments, vehicle registrations, permits, etc.), Sign Up for Mailing Lists (for senior-related information distributed electronically and via mail), Stay Engaged Virtual Activities for all ages via Falmouth Parks & Community Programs Facebook Page
Service Area: Town of Falmouth
Contact: Senior Resource Hotline Mon.-Thurs. 8am-5pm, Fri. 8am-12noon 699-5302
Falmouth Public Safety -non-emergency Evenings and Weekends 781-2300
Farmington
Services Provided: Farmington NEEDS is a Facebook Group developed to share resources and help connect Farmington residents to supplies that they need.
Service Area: Farmington Area
Contact: Farmington NEEDS Facebook group
Freeport
During the COVID-19 pandemic, if you find yourself in need, these local organizations will focus on providing the following services:
Services: Food, medical equipment loans & emergency needs
Contact: Freeport Community Services (207) 865-3985 x 205 slundin@fcsmaine.com
Services: Food for anyone 18 & under RSU 5
Contact: (207)865-0928 x 223 foodhelp@rsu5.org
Services: Heat, rent, CMP & financial assistance
Contact: Town of Freeport (207)865-4743 x 120 jhanselman@freeportmaine.com
Services: Miscellaneous urgent needs
Contact: Freeport Friends (774)212-0269 Tawni.whitney@gmail.com
Services: Business Assistance
Contact: Freeport Economic Development Corp. (207)865-4743 x117 kmcbride@freeportmaine.com
Other: Not sure where to call? Dial 211 to be connected to someone who can help.
Georgetown
Services Provided: While we are continuing with some of our regular projects, like the Age-Friendly Nature Trail, Transportation support, the Propane and Heating Oil Purchasing Group, and Home Numbering, almost all our focus is on (1) food support for Georgetown residents and (2) information sharing about the pandemic.
Food Support: With food security a significant issue in this time of isolation and social distancing, we re-connected with the Merrymeeting Food Coalition to reinstate our local Gleaning Program, which usually does not run in winter months. We have been receiving produce deliveries from them for the past few weeks. This will continue as long as needed. In addition, we formed a “Volunteer Group” under IRS guidelines so we could raise money and open a checking account. In the past month, we have raised over $4,000. These funds are supporting bi-weekly food deliveries of food staples and essential supplies, such as sanitizing wipes and spray and toilet paper, along with the gleaned vegetables.
Information Sharing: During the pandemic, access to reliable and accurate information is essential and is often a challenge in small, rural towns. We have used the extensive Age-Friendly network to share information from the Maine CDC, AARP, our Town Office, the local Fire Department and EMA, and more. This is the only source of information for many of our elders who are not as connected as they could be. We are looking to find ways to extend our communication reach so that everyone is tied in to the information and notices they need to stay safe and in touch with others.
Contact: gtagefriendly@gmail.com or 207-387-0440
Hallowell/Farmingdale
Services Provided: HallowellHelps combines the efforts of the Hallowell Food Bank, HallowellHelpers, the Hallowell All Age-Friendly Committee and the City of Hallowell to provide food, transportation support and companionship.
Service Area: Hallowell and Farmingdale
Contact: Website: http://hallowellhelps.org/ Phone: 207-370-1406 Email: hallowellhelps@gmail.com
Hampden
Services Provided: Hampden Public Safety is opening a phone line for citizens having difficulty accessing resources to assist with their basic needs. The phone line will be manned by Town of Hampden employee’s and will provide information on a variety of local services such as food cupboards, fuel assistance, emotional support and soup kitchens. We will also have information on the Town of Hampden General Assistance Program and be able to expedite emergency needs. Under certain circumstances, particularly with our vulnerable and homebound citizens, we will either make arrangements or deliver the needed items.
Service Area: Hampden
Contact: Resource Line, 862-8364
Hancock County
Services Provided: Transportation, grocery shopping & delivery, pharmacy delivery, food pantry deliveries, friendly phone calls and wellness checks
Service Area: Hancock County and bordering regions of Washington, Waldo and Penobscot Counties
Contact: Friends in Action, Jo Cooper, (207) 664-4016, jcooper@friendsinactionellsworth.org
Harpswell
Services Provided: Grocery or medication delivery, Lunch to Go delivery, daily check in calls, Volunteer Transportation Network
Service Area: Harpswell
Contact: hah@hah.community or 207-833-5771
Jackman
Services Provided: They are providing various services to older adults, including meal delivery, shoveling assistance, appointment transportation, etc. We are sending cards to seniors living alone, calling to check in and using our Jackman Exchange Facebook page to post and respond to any needs. The Town Office also is sharing info with our Community Health Advisory Team of needs. People are donating to the two local businesses that are open for food so that anyone can get a free meal and/or a reduced price meal delivered for as little as $2.
Service Area: Greater Jackman Region
Contact: Town of Jackman office: 668-2111 or CHAT Volunteer coordinator Ed McCall: 399-7255 or CHAT facilitator Denise Plante: 668-9554
Katahdin Region
Services Provided: Mobilize Katahdin is a coalition of partners in the Katahdin Region dedicated to organizing mutual aid efforts and connecting people to accurate information and local resources. Learn more, get assistance, or get involved by filling out our forms online. Our coalition is made up of many organizations throughout the Katahdin Region committed to compiling resources and responding to emerging needs in our community. Learn more here: http://mobilizekatahdin.org/
Service Area: Katahdin Region
Contact: info@mobilizekatahdin.org or calling our warm-line at 207-370-1581. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.
Kennebunk
Services Provided: Offering a food pantry with fresh food and weekly delivery. They also offer delivery of personal care items and groceries, and can attend to some more specific needs, such as help with bills or care services.
Service Area: Kennebunk
Contact: Kennebunk General Assistance Officer: 207.985.2102 ext. 1342; kwinton@kennebunkmaine.us
Kennebunkport
Services Provided: Offering a food pantry with fresh food and weekly delivery. They also offer delivery of personal care items and groceries, and can attend to some more specific needs, such as help with bills or care services.
Service Area: Kennebunkport
Contact: Kennebunkport General Assistance officers: 207.967.4401; akenneway@kennebunkportme.gov
Liberty
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Liberty
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Lincoln County (Emergency Management Agency)
Services Provided: Central location for resources, information and support links for organizations and groups throughout Lincoln County. Includes food resources, information on stores/restaurants services, and links to resources for all Lincoln County Towns.
Service Area: Alna, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Dresden, Edgecomb, Jefferson, Monhegan, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Somerville, South Bristol, Southport, Waldoboro, Westport Island, Whitefield, Wiscasset
Contact: Recommends to call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211. Website: https://www.lincolncountymaine.me/covid-19 To submit information, please email links or information to Carrie Kipfer ckipfer@lincounty.me or 207-882-6311.
Lincolnville
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Lincolnville
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Mexico
Services Provided: Daily well-being check ins
Service Area: Town of Mexico
Contact: Chief Hodsdon 207-364-5686
Montville
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Montville
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Morrill
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Morrill
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Naples
Services Provided: Community Crosswalk Outreach provides food Pantry, Shopping Assistance, Meal Delivery
Service Area: Due to high demands at this time, Naples only.
Contact: Community Crosswalk Outreach, Joanna Moore at 207-615-3226
Palermo
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Palermo
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Portland
Services Provided: We have organized a volunteer grocery shopping program for Portland residents over age 65. We have recruited and done background checks on 65 community volunteers, 55 of whom have now been matched with an older Portland resident who needs help getting food. They can shop and/or pick up food from local food pantries. The outpouring of support and so many people wanting to help has been amazing. This will continue as long as it is still unsafe for these older folks to go to the grocery store on their own. If any other age friendly communities would like information on how this program has been structured (volunteer application, rules for safe no-contact deliveries, payment options, etc. ) we would be happy to share.
Service Area: Portland
Contact: agefriendlycommunity@portlandmaine.gov or 207-541-6620
Raymond
Services Provided: Phone check in’s, errands for necessities like food and medicine.
Service Area: Raymond
Contact: Cathy Gosselin – Raymond Health Officer 207-756-2374, Jessica Fay – Age-Friendly coordinator 207-415-4218
Readfield
Services Provided: Local volunteers can provide phone call check-ins; grocery shopping and delivery; pharmacy pick-up and delivery; other errands as needed.
Service Area: Readfield
Contact: Readfield Town Office (207) 685-4939 or fill out online assistance request https://www.readfieldmaine.org/home/news/community-needs-and-volunteering
Richmond
Services Provided: Richmond Area Senior Center has a group of folks to help with grocery shopping, prescription pick up and transportation to the Doctors.
Service Area: Richmond and Dresden
Contact: Call Laurie Saunders, Director, 207-737-2251 or seniordirector@richmondmaine.com
Saco
Services Provided: Commodity food boxes, 30 pound boxes of non- perishables from USDA through Wayside Food Programs in Portland. Delivered once a month. Age Friendly Saco volunteers partner with Wayside, currently delivering 40 boxes.
Service area: Saco
Contact: Wayside Food Programs 207-775-4939
Sagadahoc County (Arrowsic, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond, West Bath, Woolwich)
Services Provided: Assisting with Meals-On-Wheels program, Good Morning wellness call-in program, wellness checks on request
Service Area: Arrowsic, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond, West Bath, Woolwich
Contact: Chief Deputy Brett Strout at 443-8532, bstrout@sagadahoccountyme.gov or Sheriff Joel Merry at 443-8228 jmerry@sagadahoccountyme.gov
Sanford
Services Provided: Grocery, prescription pick up, friendly calls and check ins
Service Area: Sanford/Springvale and immediate surrounding communities
Contact: Robin Bibber at The Y Trafton Senior Center, 207-457-0080 rbibber@sanfordymca.org
Searsmont
Services Provided: Established a series of phone banks for community residents, volunteers provide calls and connect to needed resources
Service Area: Searsmont
Contact: call the local Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 or call 211
Scarborough
Services Provided: ScarboroughHelps.org is a collaboration between the Town of Scarborough, Scarborough Public Library, and Project GRACE. The site shares resources and connections for phone check in calls, deliveries, food boxes, and much more.
Service Area: Town of Scarborough
Contact: If you need help in Scarborough, Maine, please send us a request online at their website, ScarboroughHelps.org You can also call Community Services at (207) 730-4150. This is not an emergency service. If you have an emergency and need help, please contact public safety or call 9-1-1.
Somerville
Services Provided: Town is offering well-being checks to residents
Service Area: Town of Somerville
Contact: To arrange a check-in or to volunteer, call the town office at 549-3828
South Portland
Services Provided: Have volunteers to help with shopping and distributing meals to kids that would normally get meals at school. Children’s meals are distributing from school parking lots out of buses. Assistance at home with some daily chores and other requests.
Service Area: South Portland
Contact: SoPo Community of Kindness- Sari Greene 207-318-1430
Union
Services Provided: Food delivery, morning check ins, prescription pick-up and whatever else we can do
Service Area: Town of Union
Contact: Limited hours, we suggest 211 but 785-3658 or townmanager@union.maine.gov
Waldo County
Services Provided: Most of our programming has been paused due to COVID-19. We are using this time to work on welcome packets for people who move into the area. Welcome packets will have a list of volunteer opportunities, older adult services, a brochure from Senior College and more. We have also been monitoring people who live alone through check-ins via phone. Our newsletter, which goes out quarterly, will be coming out in July.
Service Area: Waldo County
Contact: Wendy Kasten, Chair, Aging Well in Waldo County, wkasten@kent.edu
Wells
Services Provided: Good Morning Program. If they don’t call and check in by 10:00 a.m., an officer goes to their house and makes contact.
Service Area: Wells
Contact: Dispatch Center or gcongdon@wellstown.org 207-646-9354
Westbrook
Services Provided: Primarily food and supplies, and assistance with rent and utility payments. We are also offering wellness checks through Westbrook Housing Authority and Westbrook Public Safety.
Service Area: Primarily Westbrook with some Meals on Wheels Delivery to Portland
Contact: Westbrook Community Center: 207.854.0676
General Assistance – Westbrook Residents (207.591.7015)
Community Food & Resource Pantry – Westbrook Residents (207.591.8187)
Meals on Wheels – Westbrook & Portland Communities (207.878.3285)
Whitefield
Services Provided: Whitefield Cares! is a new (2019) all-volunteer initiative with the purpose of supporting residents of the Town of Whitefield who need help. We are focused on providing periodic updates of a Resource List that provides information and contacts for provision of food, clothing, assistance with heating fuel and other needs.
Service Area: Town of Whitefield
Contact: info@whitefieldcares.org or through the contact us form on their website: www.whitefieldcares.org
Yarmouth
Services Provided: We have a central helpline to offer people help especially with groceries and other necessities. People can call 6 days a week for information about what services are available and how to access them. Neighborhoods have captains to help us keep people connected and reach out to people who may be isolated. Working to expand our Phone Pal program.
Service Area: Yarmouth
Contact: 846-4763 or SMAA Resource Specialist Zany Holman at 835-9866 or zholman@smaaa.org