United Way of Mid Coast Maine announced that it has made grants totaling $47,370 to 16 agencies that are working to meet the increased needs of people in Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties, Brunswick and Harpswell, during the pandemic.

“Our United Way made the first round of COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund grants for: food, shelter, the ability to provide these basic needs safely in the pandemic, and for outreach to especially vulnerable people, including elders, people with disabilities, and victims of domestic violence,” said Executive Director Barbara Reinertsen.

“We’re so pleased that, thanks to generous donors, we are able to provide this funding,” said Reinertsen. “We will open our second round of funding on Friday, April 24. The application form will be on our website, www.uwmcm.org, and we encourage any agency incurring extra costs to meet people’s most urgent needs to apply.”

Agencies receiving funds in this first round include: Boothbay Region Community Resource Council, Healthy Kids of Damariscotta, Jefferson Area Community Food Pantry, Midcoast Maine Community Action, Mobius, Inc., New Hope for Women, Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, Spectrum Generations, Amistad, Catholic Charities – SEARCH, Independence Association, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, People Plus, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and Tedford Housing.

“We are so impressed with the agencies that are going above and beyond in helping our most vulnerable neighbors at this time,” said Reinertsen. “THANK YOU to all the generous people donating to make this help possible!”

United Way of Mid Coast Maine encourages all who wish to donate to the COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund to go to its website, www.uwmcm.org, to pay quickly by PayPal or credit card, or send a check to United Way of Mid Coast Maine, 34 Wing Farm Parkway, Bath ME 04530.

One hundred percent of donations are going directly to the agencies and initiatives helping Mid Coast residents at this time.

United Way of Mid Coast Maine’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities. It serves residents of Brunswick and Harpswell, Sagadahoc and Lincoln counties.