Meeting Basic Needs/Safety Net Council special initiatives addressing the root causes of these critical issues.

Food Security Coalition
United Way pulled together representatives from twelve food pantries in the region in 2007 to share information for their clients and to look for responses to the growing needs. This dynamic coalition has increased food and financial resources for the local food pantries, increased in-kind donations, and made connections in the community such as with the Two Bridges Jail where the inmates are now growing a wonderful garden and donating the vegetables to area food pantries. 

Emergency Fuel Assistance Meetings
United Way sponsored its annual Emergency Fuel Assistance Meeting in July of 2009.  This began this year's effort to coordinate the local and state services and let people know where to turn for help.  All services are updated for 2-1-1 Maine so people can always call 2-1-1 for the latest information.  Participants said these Community Meetings help them make appropriate referrals and distribute limited fuel assistance funds more effectively.

United Way also is building on the successful Weatherization Project launched last winter. United Way is now funding Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers to coordinate the weatherization effort locally, and Habitat for Humanity and United Way each signed contracts in the fall of 2009 with MaineHousing to build on this successful model and to provide ten trainings on Step One Weatherization across the state.

Emergency Heating Assistance Fund
In response to the critical demand for heating assistance funds in the fall of 2005, the United Way of Mid Coast Maine made a special allocation of $15,000 which was distributed to Coastal Economic Development, Lincoln County Emergency Energy Fund, Salvation Army, and Warm Thy Neighbor for use in local communities.The UWMCM Emergency Heating Assistance Fund was able to help 73 households stay warm during the holiday season.

United Way has continued to encourage donations to local funds, and contributed $25,000 in both 2007 and 2008 to these local agencies to supplement emergency heating assistance efforts.

Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
The UWMCM administers the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties facilitating the distribution of $10,000 to Lincoln County and $12,144 to Sagadahoc County to supplement emergency food and shelter programs.

2-1-1 Maine
Maine callers in need of health or human services assistance, can get connected with friendly and knowledgeable call specialists—24 hours a day, 365 days a year, simply by dialing 2-1-1. You can search on-line for a needed service in the database at www.211Maine.org—its free and confidential.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
United Way of Mid Coast Maine distributes information on the availability of the EITC program, the largest federal aid program for the working poor, to low-income individuals and families so they can take advantage of this crucial benefit. United Way is a partner in the local CA$H Coalition that helps people get their tax returns completed and to find out if they are eligible for EITC and other credits.

The Meeting Basic Needs/Safety Net Council has several special initiatives in the Mid Coast region that get to the root causes of critical issues facing our community.