We ?? Our Volunteers!

We ?? Our Volunteers!

Volunteers are at the HEART of everything we do at United Way of Southern Maine. You pack warming kits for our unhoused neighbors. You give your afternoons and Saturday mornings to help neighbors file taxes. You play a crucial role in determining where investments are made in our community. You also paint fences, clear trails, and share your time and energy so that United Way and our nonprofit partners can focus on serving our community. Thank you—every single volunteer makes our community better.??

Get involved and find volunteer opportunities at volunteer.uwsme.org .

CA$H Returns Nearly $1.3 Million to ALICE Households in Greater Portland

As CA$H Greater Portland wraps its 2024 free tax filing program for households earning $64,000 or less, we're looking back at this season's impact. By the numbers:

  • 705 households filed their taxes for free;
  • $142,320 saved in filing fees;
  • $1,155,527 in state and federal returns;
  • 2,000 volunteer hours helping neighbors file.

Thank you to our IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers for sharing your time and talent this tax season to help our neighbors get the refunds they deserve!

CA$H Greater Portland received generous financial support from 摩根大通 , KeyBank , Machias Savings Bank , Gorham Savings Bank , Bath Savings Institution , and in-kind support from Systems Engineering.?

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Investing in Community Change

Our annual Community Investment Process is currently under way! Over 50 community volunteers participate as Investment and Financial Reviewers and help us determine where to invest community dollars, ensuring your contributions have the greatest impact on lives in Southern Maine. In May, they will share their recommendations with our Board of Directors for approval, and we will announce the investments later this summer.

Every fall we put out a call for community members to participate in our Investment Process. Follow us on social media to stay informed about the process!

See our current investments in community partners .

Biddeford Ready! School Readiness Fair

Earlier this month United Way of Southern Maine's Biddeford Ready! hosted their annual School Readiness Fair. Biddeford Ready! is a community-wide effort to help the youngest members of the Biddeford community get the resources they need to enter kindergarten prepared to thrive in school and beyond. The School Readiness Fair brought over 20 community partners together to share resources with families. Parents and caregivers had the opportunity to enroll their kids in kindergarten. In addition, Saco & Biddeford Savings helped collect 1,500 diapers to distribute for free to local families.

ALICE in the News

Nearly 40% of households in Southern Maine?do not have enough income to cover the basic cost of living.?These households are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), and their financial hardships have often gone unnoticed and underestimated until recently. National news outlets are bringing attention to the difficulties faced by ALICE households across the country.

  • CBS News : Americans turn to 211 helpline amid mounting economic hardships.
  • Wall Street Journal : The Calls for Help Coming From Above the Poverty Line.
  • Business Insider : More and more Americans are becoming 'ALICEs.' They can't afford rent and groceries but are falling through the cracks in the country's safety net.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bagels & Brainstorm

Calling all Employee Campaign Managers! Fuel up, network, and get inspired for your upcoming United Way campaign at Bagels & Brainstorm on May 22. Connect with other Employee Campaign Managers from across Southern Maine over coffee and breakfast, hear campaign ideas, tips, and best practices, and leave with all the tools you need to run an impactful workplace campaign.

Visit uwsme.org/brainstorm to RSVP.

Day of Action

Get ready to TAKE ACTION with United Way of Southern Maine on June 21! Every spring, more than 600 volunteers from local businesses and other groups roll up their sleeves and spend one day volunteering with community partners across Southern Maine.?

Interested in volunteer opportunities for your organization on Day of Action? Contact [email protected] .

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