More than $52,000 in Maine Community Foundation grants aim to help strengthen nonprofit organizations and projects in Androscoggin County.

The seven grants through MaineCF’s Community Building Grant Program include $52,500 recommended by the Androscoggin County Committee and two additional grants totaling $15,000 from people with donor-advised funds, according to a news release from the foundation.

2022 grants from the Androscoggin County Committee:

• Androscoggin Humane Society, Lewiston, to provide a safety net for vulnerable pets at risk of being surrendered: $2,500;
• An Angel’s Wing, Lewiston, to serve the community by securing sober living, detoxification, and rehabilitation beds for people seeking recovery from drugs and/or alcohol: $5,000;
• Center for Wisdom’s Women, Lewiston, to provide trauma-informed programming and support at the drop-in center and Sophia’s House residential program: $5,000;
• Land in Common, Greene, to build a community-owned base for affordable housing, food production, ecological stewardship, social transformation, community connection and liberation for communities impacted by injustice: $10,000;
• Maine Audubon, to launch Lewiston Youth Corps, that will bring environmental education and hands-on conservation experiences to teens, especially those from low-income households, are BIPOC or asylum seekers: $10,000;
• Maine Inside Out, Lewiston, to engage and support at-risk Lewiston middle school students through theater workshops and community support: $10,000; and
• New Beginnings, Lewiston, to expand the offerings at the Lewiston Drop-In Center for homeless teens and young adults: $10,000.

2022 grants from donor-advised funds:

• An Angel’s Wing, $5,000;
• Rosati Leadership Academy, Lewiston, for free, after-school programming designed to foster character development and leadership potential through soccer for at-risk youth in Lewiston: $10,000.

The Androscoggin County Fund is a permanent endowment that supports projects and nonprofit organizations that strengthen communities. Proposals are submitted through MaineCF’s Community Building Grant Program, the foundation’s largest, and are reviewed by a committee of community members.

The next proposal deadline is Feb. 15, 2023. The application, guidelines and list of all 2022 grants are at mainecf.org.

The fund, established in 1999, is built through donations from the community. Those who would like more information about the fund or grant program can contact Program Officer John Ochira at 207-412-0837 or jochira@mainecf.org.

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