Support Brunswick Resource Guide

Last published update: Saturday, June 27, 2020 8:00 am

Use this Resource Guide to learn about the needs, opportunities to help, and services to support people in Brunswick, Maine, and surrounding communities.

Need help but don’t know who to ask? Visit the Support Brunswick group on Facebook. If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can private message a group admin to post for you.

Need food?Food Guide
Need money?Money Guide
Need healthcare?Healthcare Guide
Need legal help?Legal Guide
Need to get outside?Outdoor Guide
Want to help others?COVID-19 Relief Funds

Visit the Google document for the latest version of this resource guide.

Saturday, June 27Stay Safe and Protect Others: updated restriction on outdoor gatherings to 50 people as of June 1.
Dining guide: added list of every restaurant, brew pub and cafe physically located in Brunswick.
Friday, June 5Opportunities to Help: noted that ethanol is ethyl alcohol and isopropanol is isopropyl alcohol.
Tuesday, June 2Curtis Memorial Library: updated services to describe contact-free curbside pickup
Exercise and Recreation: added Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
Recent updates to this guide.

This guide is provided as a community service by Fred Horch, with help from members of the Support Brunswick group on Facebook. The goal is to publish a comprehensive and accurate guide to resources available to people living in Brunswick and surrounding communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feel free to copy and share any and all information from this guide for your own purposes. If you have any corrections or additions, please post to the public Support Brunswick Facebook group.

Handy References

For a list of handy references, see https://www.facebook.com/groups/support.brunswick/files/

Brunswick Area Resources Google doc

Brunswick special shopping hours Google doc

Emergency crisis hotlines Google doc

Opportunities to Help

Stay Safe and Protect Others

  • If you are having an emergency, call 9-1-1. Call before driving to an emergency room.
  • If you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, but you don’t feel it is an emergency, call your primary care provider before going to a practice, Walk-In Clinic, or Emergency Department. Calling first ensures you will get the best care possible while keeping others safe
  • Follow three steps before heading outdoors for exercise: 1) find the right time and place, 2) be prepared before heading out, and 3) heed all COVID-19 health warnings.
  • After touching surfaces that might harbor coronavirus virions, wash your hands thoroughly with regular soap and water, or with an “alcohol based hand rub” containing at least 60% ethanol (ethyl alcohol) or 70% isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol).
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth in public.
  • Respect the physical distancing guidelines issued by public authorities. As of June 1, those include staying at least six feet away from other people who do not live in your household and limiting groups gathering outside to no more than fifty people.
  • Cough and sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.
  • Wear a fabric face covering over your nose and mouth when out in public. Leave the medical masks for healthcare workers or people with COVID-19.
  • Learn safe ways to care for COVID-19 patients so you can care for yourself or a family member at home if necessary.
  • Create a preparedness plan for your animals in case you become ill or hospitalized.
  • Avoid driving as much as possible to minimize the risk of car accidents. Get exercise and stay fit by walking or bicycling to the grocery store and carrying your groceries home.
  • If you have children, talk with them about what is happening, what you as a family are doing to stay safe, and what you will do if anyone in your family gets sick and needs to go to the hospital. You can talk about possible emergencies without alarming your children by keeping it low-key. If you don’t know the answers to any questions they ask, find out the answers together. It is easier for children to understand what is happening during an emergency if you’ve already talked with them about what could happen.
  • Request an absentee ballot and vote by mail to help your local election officials maintain safe physical distancing for people who prefer to vote in person.
    www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl

Volunteer

  • Make regular phone calls to friends and neighbors to check in on them. A five minute conversation with a friend, by phone or video, has shown to be an effective way to maintain mental health and improve mood, especially during times of stress.
  • Ensure your less fortunate neighbors have a plan for accessing food, medicine, and other supplies in case strict measures to contain coronavirus become necessary again.
  • Provide pet food or offer to house pets should their owners become sick or hospitalized.
  • Participate in the QuaranClean project led by the Bowdoin Naturalists to rally Brunswick’s collective restless energy into a productive effort that’s good for ourselves and our planet. Pick a road near you, and with the help of gloves and a trash bag, collect all the litter you come across. Then, send a picture of yourself with the trash you collected to Clara <cbenadon@bowdoin.edu> or Kellie <knavarro@bowdoin.edu>.
  • Organize a weekly “grocery shopping rotation”: one person shops for five families each week, takes orders and drops them off. This “neighbors to neighbors” system helps grocery stores be more efficient.
  • Grow some of your own food, with an indoor or outdoor garden. The University of Maine Extension Service offers a Master Gardener Volunteer program that matches up experienced volunteers with people new to gardening.
    extension.umaine.edu/gardening/master-gardeners/
  • Register as a volunteer with Maine Ready, a joint effort of the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Maine CDC – Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), and Volunteer Maine, the state service commission.
    www.maineready.org/need
  • Donate blood. The pandemic has only exacerbated the need for healthy blood donors. Visit the American Red Cross to find a blood drive near you.
  • Help provide childcare to health care workers.
    mainehealth.org/healthy-communities/coronavirus/child-care-connection
  • If you are 18 or older without a confirmed COVID-19 infection or current symptoms consistent with COVID-19, participate in a SARS-COV2 pandemic serosurvey and blood sampling to help the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases find  the number of people with detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 from a sampling of adults who have no known exposure or clinical illness.
  • Sign up with Volunteer Surge for online training to become a volunteer Community Health Worker. The training is based on “Ready CNA,” a video-based online course which can be completed in about 30 hours. After you have trained to become a volunteer nursing assistant, you can help patients in your own community, or you can tend to patients remotely through a telehealth system.

Share Information

  • Join the Support Brunswick Facebook group to share information.
    www.facebook.com/groups/support.brunswick/
  • Subscribe to your local elected officials’ newsletters.
  • If you have thoughts about how Maine should reopen its economy, share them with the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development.
    appengine.egov.com/apps/me/decd-suggestions
  • If you have a story of Mainers helping Mainers during these difficult times, consider sending a video and a brief description to The Dirigo Network who may share it on the Maine Senate Democrats’ Facebook page.
    tinyurl.com/dirigonetwork
  • Land in Common’s Maine Land Share Project connects people who want to grow food with people who have land to share. Looking for a place to grow food this season? Have land available that others could use to grow food this season? Have access to, or know about, resources that can support food growers this season? Visit their web page to describe what you’re seeking or what you can offer.
    www.landincommon.org/landshare/
  • What’s bringing you joy or keeping you grounded during the coronavirus pandemic? Share your photos, videos, artwork, and writings, both personal and business, with the Brunswick Downtown Association.
    brunswickdowntown.org/share-your-stories/

Support Local Businesses

  • Buy a gift card, gift certificate, class pass, etc. Think of a local business you would have patronized, look them up online, and buy a gift card instead! Keep it for yourself to use after the pandemic, or give it to someone special. Tip for businesses: Facebook has partnerships with Square and Kabbage to make it easy for you to offer gift cards on Facebook.
  • Check out Operation Pick-Up from the Brunswick Downtown Association to find take-out or curbside to-go food from a local restaurant or cafe.
  • Set up virtual drinks & desserts with friends or family. If you happen to know the cell phone number or email address of a local service industry worker, consider tipping them through Venmo or another cash app.
  • Use the Maine Open Online website to buy online from a local Maine-based company.
  • Help your favorite business create a 10 second public service announcement (PSA) to air free-of-charge on WMTW’s “Keeping Maine Strong” service initiative.

Donate to a COVID-19 Response or Relief Fund

Local and Regional Relief Funds

Statewide Relief Funds

National Relief Funds

International Relief Funds

COVID-19 Facts

Please see the United States CDC and the Maine CDC for the latest public health advisories regarding the COVID-19 pandemic:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease with potentially severe or fatal pulmonary and respiratory symptoms caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome beta coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). First reports of the disease came from Wuhan, China, on December 8, 2019. The infectious virion, SARS-CoV-2, was identified on January 7, 2020. Its complete genome has been sequenced; mutations are being tracked globally. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic, having received reports of cases in 114 countries, indicating containment had failed and SARS-CoV-2 was spreading person-to-person globally via community transmission.

As the pandemic unfolds, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is mutating. Models predict the novel coronavirus and its descendants will infect tens of millions, and possibly hundreds of millions, of people around the world by the end of 2020, with the potential to join flu and the common cold as a permanent human disease. Epidemiological theory predicts that the most successful strains will likely evolve to have a lower death rate than current strains of SARS-CoV-2, which are not yet well adapted to human hosts.

Searches for effective treatments and vaccines are active. Most investigators believe the necessary data to prove efficacy at a high confidence level will not be available until September 2020 for treatments and until June 2021 for vaccines.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 report a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild to severe illness, which typically appear two to fourteen days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Body aches and muscle pain
  • Headaches
  • Lethargy
  • Chills, sometimes with repeated shaking
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (20% of cases)
  • Rapid organ failure leading to death (3% to 4% of cases [high uncertainty])

COVID-19 Disease Burden

Based on preliminary data analyzed by the World Health Organization:

  • 80% of diseased suffer mild symptoms not requiring hospitalization
  • 15% require oxygen
  • 5% require ventilation
  • 3% to 4% [this rate has a large uncertainty] die within 28 days of infection
  • Long-term impact of COVID-19 among those who recover is not yet known, but lung scans of COVID-19 patients show unusual and distinctive patterns.

COVID-19 Articles (General Audience)

COVID-19 Epidemiology

COVID-19 Biology

Directory of Resources

The following directory is intended to be a comprehensive list of the community resources available to support people in Brunswick, Maine, and surrounding areas. The goal is to include every non-profit or governmental organization with a physical location in Brunswick, or with a mission to serve people in Brunswick.

Direct Assistance

  • If you need personal assistance of any kind, you may message one of the admins of the public Facebook group Support Brunswick. One of them will post for you so you can remain anonymous. You can then use Facebook to follow up with any of the members of the Support Brunswick group whose offer of help meets your needs.
    fredhorch.wordpress.com/support-brunswick
    www.facebook.com/groups/support.brunswick
  • The Salvation Army Bath-Brunswick provides food boxes and financial assistance (heating, utility, and rental / housing assistance) for individuals in need in Brunswick and all of MSAD 75.
    nne.salvationarmy.org/bath
    www.facebook.com/tsa.bathbrunswick.nne.use
    • Needs:
      • Money
    • Opportunities:
    • Services:
      • Please call ahead at (207) 443-3611 to confirm all services. Leave a message if necessary.
      • Service area includes Arrowsic, Bailey Island, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Cundy’s Harbor, Five Islands, Georgetown, Harpswell, Orrs Island, Pejepscot, Phippsburg, Sebasco Estates, Small Point, South Harpswell, Topsham, West Bath, West Point and Woolwich.
      • Food pantry is Mon, Wed, Thu 10 am to 1 pm.
      • Social services (assistance for rental/housing, utilities, and heating) are Mon, Wed, Thu 9 am to 1 pm.
  • The Human Services department of the Town of Brunswick handles applications for General Assistance for those who cannot pay for their basic necessities.
    www.brunswickme.org/190/Human-Services
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • General Assistance is based on eligibility requirements including number of people in the household, documented sources of income, and documented expenses.
      • Schedule an appointment to begin the process of applying by calling (207) 725-6661.
  • The Emergency Action Network (TEAN) supports Brunswick’s preK-12 grade students and their families who are struggling to meet basic needs by harnessing the resources of the Brunswick community.
    emergencyactionnetwork.com
    www.facebook.com/groups/emergencyactionnetwork
    • Needs:
      • Money
      • Larger refrigerators or freezers for families with tiny refrigerators and freezers, to minimize the number of trips to the grocery store these families must make.
    • Opportunities:
      • Donate money: emergencyactionnetwork.com/current-donation-needs/
      • Donate a refrigerator or freezer: Contact me <fred.horch@gmail.com> if you have a (relatively) larger refrigerator or freezer that you could donate to a family in need. No dorm fridges, please. We are looking for regular size appliances, so families with only tiny refrigerators and freezers can upgrade to a regular size appliance. I will coordinate with volunteers who can pick up from your location.
    • Services:
      • TEAN works directly with school staff to meet the needs of the families in our district. Students in need and/or their families should reach out to their classroom teacher, school social worker, counselor or nurse.
  • The Mainers Together project of the Maine People’s Alliance supports community-based efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect our most vulnerable friends and neighbors.
    mainerstogether.com
    www.facebook.com/MainersTogether
    • Need:
      • Money
    • Opportunity:
    • Services:
      • Describe your need for information, transportation, food, financial assistance or other help: I Need Help
      • An organizer from Maine People’s Alliance will respond.

Food

Emergency Food Assistance

  • The Salvation Army Bath-Brunswick provides food boxes and financial assistance (heating, utility, and rental / housing assistance) for individuals in need in Brunswick and all of MSAD 75.
    nne.salvationarmy.org/bath
    www.facebook.com/tsa.bathbrunswick.nne.use
    • Needs:
      • Money
    • Opportunities:
    • Services:
      • Please call ahead at (207) 443-3611 to confirm all services. Leave a message if necessary.
      • Service area includes Arrowsic, Bailey Island, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Cundy’s Harbor, Five Islands, Georgetown, Harpswell, Orrs Island, Pejepscot, Phippsburg, Sebasco Estates, Small Point, South Harpswell, Topsham, West Bath, West Point and Woolwich.
      • Food pantry is Mon, Wed, Thu 10 am to 1 pm.
      • Social services (assistance for rental/housing, utilities, and heating) are Mon, Wed, Thu 9 am to 1 pm.
  • Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP) provides hungry people with access to healthy food, operating a soup kitchen and food pantry in Brunswick.
    www.mchpp.org
    www.facebook.com/MidCoastHungerPreventionProgram
    • Info:
    • Needs:
      • Money
      • Food donations
      • Clean paper and plastic bags
    • Opportunities:
      • Donate money: www.mchpp.org/donate/ 
      • Donate food or clean bags: drop off at 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick (behind Hannaford next to railway tracks) Mon-Sat between 8 am and 10 am or between 2 pm and 4 pm.
      • Volunteer: very limited opportunities. Facility is no longer open to the public.
    • Services:
      • For details see www.mchpp.org/covid/
      • Limited staff and volunteers. Facility is no longer open to the public.
      • Facility is closed to public; food now distributed outside.
      • To-go lunches, pre-packed food pantry boxes, delivery service.
      • Mobile pantry in Harpswell is distributing premade boxes of food.
      • Pickups: subject to change due to potential procedural changes from supermarkets and Good Shepherd Food Bank, but for now pickups are continuing as usual. 
      • Food Bank: also subject to change, but for now focusing on processing the most common food items that the majority of guests will be able to utilize, and will last the longest in household pantries. Volunteers are also helping to make boxes and bags of dry goods and produce (and toilet paper thanks to Bowdoin College) for guests.
      • Food Pantry: running a drive-thru pantry out of the airlock. Guests drive to the back of the building, MCHPP collects basic information through the car window and then volunteers put boxes and bags of food (dry goods, produce, meat, eggs, dairy, and bread) directly into their cars. Anyone walking up will also get a box of food.
      • Soup Kitchen: Volunteer teams prepare meals that MCHPP will serve to guests. Guests do not come inside, but instead serve themselves from a table outside the front doors. Volunteers and staff restock the table occasionally and explain the process to any questioning guests. 
      • Rena is working hard to make meals simple and volunteers are doing a lot of advanced prep work to make mornings easier. Volunteers are still helping Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings with advanced food prep.
      • Pantry to Pantry: Unfortunately, had to stop using household specific menus for Pantry to Pantry. However, clients are still receiving bi-weekly food boxes made and delivered by volunteers. Volunteers are trying to leave boxes outside of homes/apartments to minimize possible contagion.  
      • School Pantry: The last few weeks MCHPP packaged take home food for school districts to distribute to families! They’ve sent school districts a large supply of food and once MCHPP has a sense of procedural changes at Good Shepherd they will figure out how to continue providing food to students. 
      • Mobile Pantries: hosted both the Lisbon and Harpswell Mobile Pantries in March! Drive-thru style at both locations. 
      • Food Security Coalition: Sandi is continuing to support the local pantries with resources and information. Furthermore, MCHPP is still providing small pantries with rescued food.

Free Meals

  • Brunswick School Department is distributing meals for children under 18 years old at ten locations in Brunswick.
    www.brunswick.k12.me.us
    www.facebook.com/Brunswick-School-Department-896342617067005
    • Services:
      • Meals distributed Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
      • Perryman – Community Center
      • Maplewood Manor – 2 Karen Lane Office
      • Baybridge – Boats & Lots Storage
      • Pegasus & Neptune – Tennis Courts Parking Lot
      • Harriet Beecher Stowe – Front Bus Loop
      • Atlantic Regional Federal Credit Union – Front Parking Lot on Cushing
      • Bowdoin College Watson Ice Arena – Parking Lot
      • Coffin Pond – Parking Lot
      • Edwards Field – Parking Lot on Right
      • Mid Coast Baptist Church – Parking Lot
  • Midcoast Maine Community Action is providing a meal program to serve children up to the age of 18 who are experiencing food insecurity at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    midcoastmainecommunityaction.org
    www.facebook.com/mmcacorp
    • Services:
      • Grab-and-go style bags consisting of seven lunches and seven snacks for every child in a household are distributed on Fridays, 10 am to noon, at the Brunswick Head Start Center, 35A Gurnet Road, Brunswick.
      • Meals are provided through the USDA Summer Food Service Program for children only.
      • Children do not have to be enrolled in Head Start to be a recipient of this program.
      • For MMCA’s Head Start families, pick-up will include extras such as produce, school supplies, toiletries, and special requests.
      • Food delivery may be coordinated if volunteers are available; to inquire, please contact Head Start offices at (207) 442-7963.
      • This program serves other communities besides Brunswick; see MMCA Provides Meals for Kids.
  • Pathway Vineyard Church provides a drive-thru meal on Tuesdays from 5 pm to 6 pm.
    www.pathwayvineyard.com
    www.facebook.com/PathwayBrunswick
    • Services:
      • 2 Columbus Drive, Brunswick
      • Every Tue 5 pm to 6 pm.
      • Drive thru: meal will be delivered to your car.
  • Spectrum Generations’ dedicated volunteers and staff supply Meals on Wheels to communities throughout Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Somerset, and Waldo Counties, plus the towns of Harpswell and Brunswick in Cumberland County.
    www.spectrumgenerations.org/nutrition-services/meals-wheels
    www.facebook.com/SpectrumGenerations
    • Info:
    • Needs:
      • Money
      • Volunteer Drivers
    • Opportunities:
    • Services:
      • Under new guidelines, more people now qualify for home-delivered Meals on Wheels. Anyone over the age of 60 who is practicing social distancing can receive meals throughout Spectrum Generation’s service territory.
      • The Meals on Wheels program provides nutritionally balanced meals for homebound individuals 60 years of age or older and to persons with a disability who are unable to prepare a meal for themselves.
      • Meals on Wheels are delivered to homes by volunteers and Spectrum Generations staff. This also provides an opportunity to check in on the meal recipient as a safety measure.
      • To inquire about Meals on Wheels, Maine-ly Delivered Meals, or USDA Commodities Supplemental Food Program, call the Sagadahoc County (and Brunswick/Harpswell) nutrition coordinator at (207) 607-4406.

Food Security

Grocery Stores in Brunswick

  • Morning Glory Natural Foods is an independent grocery store specializing in local and organic food located on Maine Street in Brunswick.
    www.moglonf.com
    www.facebook.com/Morning-Glory-Natural-Foods-149416221756811/
    • Opportunities:
      • Organize a weekly “shopping rotation”: one person shops for five families each week, takes orders and drops them off. This “neighbors to neighbors” system helps grocery stores be more efficient.
    • Services:
      • New policies effective Thursday, March 24.
      • Maximum 10 customers in the store at once.
      • Hours:
        • Mon: 10 am – 6 pm
        • Tue: 1 pm – 6 pm
        • Wed: elderly and at risk only 9 am – 10 am
        • Wed: 10 am – 6 pm
        • Thu: 1 pm – 6 pm
        • Fri: 1 pm – 6 pm
        • Sat: 10 am – 6 pm
        • Sun: CLOSED
      • Curbside pickup:
        • Email orders to <moglotogo@gmail.com>
        • Include first and last name AND a working phone number in the subject line of your email.
        • They will call for credit card info before they pick your order.
        • Email orders received after 3:30 pm will go into the next day’s queue.
        • They will substitute similar items when your first choice is out of stock unless you write “no substitutes” at the top of your order.
      • All items are non-refundable and non-returnable.
      • No special orders.
  • Hannaford is a full-service grocery store in downtown Brunswick near the train station.
    www.hannaford.com/customer-service/htg-coronavirus-updates
    www.facebook.com/Hannaford/
    • Opportunities:
      • Organize a weekly “shopping rotation”: one person shops for five families each week, takes orders and drops them off. This “neighbors to neighbors” system helps grocery stores be more efficient.
    • Services:
      • Store hours are 7 am to 9 pm.
      • One hour on Tue, Wed and Thu — 7 to 8 am — will be reserved for customers 60 and over and customers identified by the CDC as being high-risk.
  • Shaw’s is a full-service grocery store near Cook’s Corner in Brunswick.
    www.shaws.com
    www.facebook.com/Shaws
    • Opportunities:
      • Organize a weekly “shopping rotation”: one person shops for five families each week, takes orders and drops them off. This “neighbors to neighbors” system helps grocery stores be more efficient.
    • Services:
      • Grocery Delivery with online ordering.
  • Walmart is a full-service grocery and department store near Cook’s Corner in Brunswick.
    grocery.walmart.com
    www.facebook.com/walmart
    • Opportunities:
      • Organize a weekly “shopping rotation”: one person shops for five families each week, takes orders and drops them off. This “neighbors to neighbors” system helps grocery stores be more efficient.
    • Services:
      • NextDay delivery is currently unavailable due to high demand.
      • Starting Thursday, March 19, Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets will be open 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until further notice.

Markets and Convenience Stores in Brunswick

Local Food (Farms and Farmers) available in Brunswick

Restaurants

I am working on a Dining Guide for restaurants in Brunswick which will be published in a separate document. If you own a restaurant that is physically located in Brunswick, I would like to verify what we publish about your business. Please email me <fred.horch@gmail.com>

In the meantime, a selective list of restaurants is available in the BDA’s Business Updates: Pick-Up, Take-Out Offerings & Closures (Operation Pick-Up.).

Shelter

  • Tedford Housing provides housing for homeless in Brunswick, including an adult shelter open 24 hours per day for 16 guests.
    tedfordhousing.org
    www.facebook.com/tedfordhousing
    • Needs:
      • Money
      • Women’s sanitary pads (not tampons)
      • Laundry detergent
      • Paper towels
      • Cleaning products (particularly all purpose cleaner)
      • Paper plates, bowls and cups
      • Plastic forks, spoons and knives
      • Storage bags and sandwich bags
      • Trash bags
      • Food – pantry items we can have on hand like sugar, bread, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, etc.
    • Opportunities:
      • Donate money: tedfordhousing.org/donate/ or mail checks to Tedford Housing, PO Box 958, Brunswick, ME 04011
      • Donate items: leave outside the admin office at 14 Middle Street, Brunswick, Mon-Fri 9 am to 4 pm. The door will be locked. You can leave the donation outside and knock loudly so they know a donation has arrived.
      • If you have any questions regarding donations, please call (207) 729-1161 or email <info@tedfordhousing.org>.
      • Volunteer: not enlisting the help of volunteers at this time.
    • Services:
      • All offices, shelters and supportive housing closed to the public.
      • Tedford Housing cannot provide shelter to any new guests.
      • Those who are unsheltered and need assistance should call the Town of Brunswick’s General Assistance office at (207) 725-6661.
  • Brunswick Housing Authority serves the housing needs of low income persons in Brunswick.
    brunswickhousing.org
    www.facebook.com/BrunswickHousing
  • Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) is an independent authority created by the Maine State Legislature to address unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing. MaineHousing administers the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the Section 8 Rental Assistance programs, the Emergency Solutions Grant Program, the Weatherization Program, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
    www.mainehousing.org
    www.facebook.com/MaineHousing1
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • MaineHousing is open for business and will remain open.
      • Their building, however, is closed to the public.
      • MaineHousing requests that landlords work with their tenants to resolve any lease violations so that people remain housed.
      • If you have a Housing Choice Voucher through MaineHousing and have lost your job or lost income, call (207) 624-5789.
      • The Home Mortgage Purchase program remains operational.
      • Potential homebuyers should visit https://www.mainehousing.org/programs-services/homebuyer/home-loan
      • Lender partners should contact their assigned Mortgage Lending Officer via email.
      • If you have a MaineHousing First Home Loan and are experiencing difficulties making your  payment due to COVID-19, visit https://www.mainehousing.org/quicklinks/highlights/trouble-making-your-mainehousing-mortgage-payment
      • The Homeownership Department has suspended all in-person lender training, Realtor continuing education unit (CEU) classes and outside conference participation.
      • The Family Self-Sufficiency program, ReStart, will continue to operate remotely via telephone.
      • Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contracts for Section 8 rental assistance are being renewed.
      • Rent increases will continue as needed per the “operating cost adjustment factor” (OCAF) provision in each HAP contract.
      • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) payments continue weekly. Audits and inspections are currently cancelled.
      • Quarterly homeless shelter payments will continue. Shelter monitoring procedures are suspended.
      • The Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Help Desk <hmishelp@mainehousing.org> and the Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program (ESHAP) Help Desk <ESHAPhelpdesk@mainehousing.org> continue to answer questions and provide technical assistance.
  • Maine hoMEworks is a nonprofit group dedicated to consumer homebuyer education.
    www.mainehomeworks.org
    www.facebook.com/hoMEworks-117732954909598
  • Maine Statewide Homeless Council was established by state statute in 2004, replacing the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Opportunities, to serve as an advisory committee to the Maine State Housing Authority, the Governor, the Legislature, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) on homeless matters.
    www.maineshc.org
    No Facebook presence
  • The Maine Continuum of Care (MCOC) is a group of service providers that address homelessness throughout the entire state of Maine. The MCOC can apply to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for McKinney-Vento funding for permanent housing, transitional housing, supportive services, homeless management information systems (HMIS), and homelessness prevention.
    www.mainehomelessplanning.org
    No Facebook presence

Money and Employment

Emergency Financial Assistance

  • The Salvation Army Bath-Brunswick provides food boxes and financial assistance (heating, utility, and rental / housing assistance) for individuals in need in Brunswick and all of MSAD 75.
    nne.salvationarmy.org/bath
    www.facebook.com/tsa.bathbrunswick.nne.use
    • Needs:
      • Money
    • Opportunities:
    • Services:
      • Please call ahead at (207) 443-3611 to confirm all services. Leave a message if necessary.
      • Service area includes Arrowsic, Bailey Island, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Cundy’s Harbor, Five Islands, Georgetown, Harpswell, Orrs Island, Pejepscot, Phippsburg, Sebasco Estates, Small Point, South Harpswell, Topsham, West Bath, West Point and Woolwich.
      • Food pantry is Mon, Wed, Thu 10 am to 1 pm.
      • Social services (assistance for rental/housing, utilities, and heating) are Mon, Wed, Thu 9 am to 1 pm.
  • The Human Services department of the Town of Brunswick handles applications for General Assistance for those who cannot pay for their basic necessities.
    www.brunswickme.org/190/Human-Services
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • General Assistance is based on eligibility requirements including number of people in the household, documented sources of income, and documented expenses.
      • Schedule an appointment to begin the process of applying by calling (207) 725-6661.
  • Bowdoin Labor Alliance strives to represent a diverse coalition of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members who engage with issues of class and labor in the Bowdoin community.
    bowdoinlaboralliance.nationbuilder.com
    www.facebook.com/bowdoinlaboralliance

Employment and Unemployment

Grant and Loan Programs

Banks, Credit Unions and Other Lenders in Brunswick

  • For a list of the banks and credit unions with a physical location in Brunswick see the Support Brunswick Money Guide.
  • Brunswick Development Corporation (BDC) works with Brunswick-based organizations to provide loans which support job creation and new or expanded products and services.
    www.brunswickdevcorp.org
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • The Brunswick Development Corporation’s (BDC) Pandemic Emergency Loan Fund (PELF) is at capacity and cannot fund additional requests.
      • Businesses who wish to be placed on a waiting list in case additional funds become available should email <scostello@brunswickme.org>.
  • Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) is a lender and investor specializing in small and medium-sized businesses; natural resource-based industries from the farm, fishery, aquaculture, forestry, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism sectors; and community facility, commercial real estate, and affordable housing development.
    www.ceimaine.org
    www.facebook.com/CEIMaine
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic CEI offices are closed to the public. CEI staff will be working remotely and want to hear from you! Please reach out to your CEI contact regarding scheduled meetings and/or any questions/concerns.

Financial Literacy

Taxes

  • The Town of Brunswick’s Assessing Department determines assessed values on all residential and commercial real estate and personal property, and maintains all Town ownership and assessment data for the purpose of annual tax bills.
    www.brunswickme.org/149/Assessing
    No Facebook presence
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • Governor Mills ordered an extension to the deadline for many tax exemption applications which are normally due April 1st. The new tentative due date will be May 30, 2020.
  • Maine Revenue Services, of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, administers the tax laws of Maine to provide the revenues necessary to support the state and local governments.
    www.maine.gov/revenue/homepage.html
    www.facebook.com/MaineDAFS
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • The state will extend the deadline for Maine income tax payments from April 15 to July 15, 2020.
      • Payment and filing deadlines for all other tax types, including Maine sales tax and income tax withholding, remain unchanged.
      • Limited public access to Maine Revenue Services facilities.
      • Taxpayers may receive assistance from 9 am to 4 pm by calling the Taxpayer Service Center at (207) 624-9784 or the Property Tax Division at (207) 624-5600.
  • The Internal Revenue Service is the nation’s tax collection agency and administers the Internal Revenue Code enacted by Congress.
    www.irs.gov
    www.facebook.com/IRS

Healthcare

Doctors, Hospitals and Clinics

  • Mid Coast Hospital is a 93-bed full-service community hospital with more than 200 providers in more than 30 practice areas.
    www.midcoasthealth.com
    www.facebook.com/MidCoastHospital
    • Info:
    • Opportunities:
    • Services:
      • The Public Affairs Team at Mid Coast–Parkview Health is asking community partners to not share content about current policies/restrictions as they are changing rapidly.  Instead, they are providing general guidance and updating a COVID-19 page multiple times per week with the latest information.
      • They write, “Mid Coast Hospital is working to ensure that our patients and employees are kept as safe and protected as possible from the COVID-19 virus. We are prepared and responding appropriately and proactively following World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. For the latest impacts to Mid Coast Hospital services, including current visitor restrictions, please visit: http://www.midcoasthealth.com/health-alerts/coronavirus/”
  • Mid Coast Medical Group is a group of primary and specialty care physicians affiliated with Mid Coast Hospital and located in Brunswick, Bath and Topsham.
    www.midcoasthealth.com/mcmg
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • As part of Mid Coast Hospital’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Mid Coast Medical Group has temporarily changed the availability and location of some of our outpatient services. Elective medical procedures and non-urgent office visits have been postponed. Telehealth visits are available for primary care and specialty care practices. For more information about these changes, please visit: http://www.midcoasthealth.com/health-alerts/coronavirus/
  • Mid Coast Hospital Walk-In Clinic provides expert and urgent care for minor medical problems such as cuts, sprains, coughs and infections at a lower cost than a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility.
    www.midcoasthealth.com/walkin
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • In case of emergency, call 911.
      • If you have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, and you do not have a primary care provider, before coming to the Walk-In Clinic please call (207) 406-7500.
      • Telehealth visits may be available.
      • For more information, please visit http://www.midcoasthealth.com/walkin/
  • Mid Coast Senior Health provides a complete range of healthcare services and living options for seniors, including rehabilitation, assisted living, memory care, long-term nursing care, and hospice.
    www.midcoastseniorhealth.com
    www.facebook.com/SeniorHealthCenter
  • CHANS Home Health & Hospice, part of Mid Coast-Parkview Health, is a full service, non-profit agency providing skilled home health, hospice, private duty care services, and an array of community-based wellness clinics and support services in Midcoast Maine.
    www.chanshomehealth.com
    www.facebook.com/CHANSHomeHealth
    • Info:
      • The Public Affairs Team at Mid Coast – Parkview Health notes, “We do not have any COVID-19 updates to report.”
  • Martin’s Point HealthCare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization offering family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics, as well as onsite lab and health education programs, with two locations in Brunswick.
    martinspoint.org
    www.facebook.com/MartinsPointHealthCare
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, call (207) 798-4050
      • Farley Road, Brunswick, call (207) 725-8079
  • Oasis Free Clinics provides free medical services for residents of Brunswick, Harpswell, Freeport, Durham and Sagadahoc County.
    www.oasisfreeclinics.org
    www.facebook.com/OasisFreeClinics
    • Services:
      • If you need help or a prescription refill, call (207) 721-9277.
      • No in-person visits.
      • Oasis Dental Clinic is closed.

Health Education and Counseling

Health Insurance and Consumer Information

Government

Town of Brunswick and Local Government

  • Brunswick Public Works Department maintains roads, sidewalks, and storm water drains, and manages snow plowing, the Graham Road landfill, and curbside collection of residential trash and recycling.
    www.brunswickme.org/261/Public-Works
    www.facebook.com/Brunswick-Public-Works-123779628847
    • Services:
      • The annual Spring Clean-Up period (April 21 – May 2, 2020) that offers reduced rates at the landfill has been postponed due to the Governor’s stay-healthy-at-home order in effect until April 30. They will assess the situation at the end of the month to determine if they can reschedule this Clean-Up period.
      • Office is closed to the public, but all Public Works employees will still be working to handle calls and emails, and to perform our normal repair and maintenance operations throughout town.
      • The Graham Road landfill will continue to operate as usual during its regularly scheduled times.
      • Weekly curbside trash/recycling collection will continue as scheduled.
  • Brunswick Parks and Recreation department maintains and manages 42 parks, facilities and public spaces in Brunswick, and administers approximately 100 programs and events annually.
    www.brunswickme.org/191/Parks-Recreation
    www.facebook.com/BrunswickParksandRecreation
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • All Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department playgrounds, athletic fields, restrooms, outdoor athletic courts and the dog park are CLOSED.
      • The Town’s 2.6 mile paved Androscoggin River Bicycle Path, multi-use trails, additional hiking trails, boat launches (excepting the Mill Street Canoe Portage), and the Senior Gardens located along Industry Road remain open.
      • Visitors to town owned parks are asked to maintain a minimum of 6 feet distance from others.
      • All gatherings of more than 10 people are banned.
      • If you see something that needs attention, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at (207) 725-6656.
  • The Human Services department of the Town of Brunswick handles applications for General Assistance for those who cannot pay for their basic necessities.
    www.brunswickme.org/190/Human-Services
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • General Assistance is based on eligibility requirements including number of people in the household, documented sources of income, and documented expenses.
      • Schedule an appointment to begin the process of applying by calling (207) 725-6661.
  • The Brunswick-Topsham Water District provides water for drinking and fire protection in Brunswick and Topsham.
    www.btwater.org
    www.facebook.com/Brunswick-Topsham-Water-District-142336607702
    • Services:
      • Office is closed to the public.
      • For emergencies, call (207) 729-9956.
      • For non-emergencies, email <info@btwater.org>.
  • The Brunswick Sewer District is a quasi-municipal corporation for the collection and treatment of wastewater in Brunswick.
    www.brunswicksewer.org
    www.facebook.com/brunswicksewer

County of Cumberland

  • Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department preserves the peace, enforces the law, and protects rights and property in Cumberland County.
    www.cumberlandso.org
    www.facebook.com/cumberlandcountyso
    • Services:
      • The Community Corrections Center program is suspended.
      • Inmate and detainee visits are suspended. Attorneys will be granted non-contact-only visits.
      • Fingerprinting services are suspended.

State of Maine

Nation of United States of America (Federal Government)

United Nations (International Agencies)

Social Services

Community Services

  • Midcoast Maine Community Action (MMCA) (formerly Coastal Economic Development) connects people to vital services.
    midcoastmainecommunityaction.org
    www.facebook.com/mmcacorp
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • Offices and classrooms are closed to the public until at least April 27.
      • Grab-and-go style bags consisting of seven lunches and seven snacks for every child in a household are distributed on Fridays, 10 am to noon, at the Brunswick Head Start Center, 35A Gurnet Road, Brunswick.
      • Meals are provided through the USDA Summer Food Service Program for children only.
      • Children do not have to be enrolled in Head Start to be a recipient of this program.
      • For MMCA’s Head Start families, pick-up will include extras such as produce, school supplies, toiletries, and special requests.
      • MMCA’s meal sites will be open during school vacation week (April 20-24).
      • Food delivery may be coordinated if volunteers are available; to inquire, please contact Head Start offices at (207) 442-7963.
      • This program serves other communities besides Brunswick; see MMCA Provides Meals for Kids.
  • The Opportunity Alliance is the Community Action Agency for Cumberland County, Maine, and the state’s designated crisis services provider for Cumberland County.
    www.opportunityalliance.org
    www.facebook.com/TheOpportunityAlliance
  • United Way of Mid Coast Maine funds over 40 programs at local agencies to mobilize the caring power of communities to improve the health, education and financial stability of neighbors in need.
    www.uwmcm.org
    www.facebook.com/uwmcm
    • Needs:
      • Money
    • Opportunities:
      • Donate to United Way’s COVID-19 urgent needs fund.
        www.uwmcm.org
    • Services:
      • Staff is working from home.
      • Email <info@uwmcm.org>
      • Call (207) 443-9752. Leave a message; they will get back to you.

Senior Citizen Services

  • People Plus supports an engaged, healthy, and independent life for older adults.
    peopleplusmaine.org
    www.facebook.com/People-Plus-Maine-336965349685371
    • Info:
    • Opportunities:
      • Volunteer: Help make check in calls to homebound elders. Interested volunteers would maintain the same call list through the entire quarantine, thus developing a relationship of trust and respect with each caller. For details, please email <fred.horch@gmail.com> by Wednesday, April 1. Virtual training will be provided.
    • Services:
      • Center closed.
      • All programs, class and clubs canceled.
  • Neighbors Inc assists the elderly allowing them to maintain their independence and remain in their own residences.
    https://neighborsinc.com/
    No Facebook presence
    • Services:
      • For-profit provider of the tasks families, friends and neighbors once offered each other as members of the same community.
      • Offers services in Brunswick, Topsham, Bath, Freeport, Woolwich, Phippsburg, Georgetown, Arrowsic, Harpswell, and Bowdoinham.
      • Neighbors is now owned by Mitch Rousseau’s Rousseau Management, which also owns and manages Coastal Landing, Coastal Shores, Dionne Commons, and Horizons Living & Rehabilitation Center.
      • Call (207) 725-9444
  • Maine Council on Aging is an organization-based membership association to advance broad public policy issues that ensure we can all live healthy, engaged and secure lives as we age in our homes and communities.
    mainecouncilonaging.org
    www.facebook.com/MaineCouncilonAging

Legal Services

Disability Services

Labor Services

Transportation

  • Brunswick Explorer provides public transit service throughout Brunswick.
    www.brunswickexplorer.org
    No Facebook presence
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • STAY HOME: ride public transit for essential trips only.
      • For your health and others, please do not ride unless you must.
      • Drivers may ask you the purpose of your trip. It is their obligation to limit the number of riders on the bus at any one time. They ask for the safety of all concerned.
      • Further bus service suspensions may occur. These will be evaluated every Friday for the upcoming week.
  • Western Maine Transportation Services operates the Brunswick Explorer and other public transportation lines in Maine.
    www.wmtsbus.org
    www.facebook.com/Western-Maine-Transportation-168004396544351
    • Info:
      • Please visit the WMTS FB page for service changes due to COVID-19.
      • If you are trying to make connections with Concord Coach please visit www.concordcoachlines.com for updated schedule information.
    • Opportunities:
      • When riding on any WMTS services please practice social distancing as space allows, cover coughs and sneezes and practice good hand hygiene.
      • Please check to be sure your destination is open to the public before going out.
      • Please check store hours. Some stores are closed or are open for a shorter day because of COVID-19.
    • Services:
      • STAY HOME: ride public transit for essential trips only.
      • For your health and others, please do not ride unless you must.
      • Drivers may ask you the purpose of your trip. It is their obligation to limit the number of riders on the bus at any one time. They ask for the safety of all concerned.
      • Further bus service suspensions may occur. These will be evaluated every Friday for the upcoming week.
      • WMTS, citylink, GreenLine, Lisbon Connection, Brunswick Explorer, and Demand Response Services have new policies effective Friday, April 3:
        • ALL buses will operate at half capacity to provide social distancing.
        • Do not sit next to or near people that you aren’t traveling with.
        • This physical distancing will be enforced by the drivers.
      • If your transportation service is suspended, call 1-800-393-9335. WMTS is experiencing higher than usual call volume for our call center. Please be patient, voicemail messages will be returned as quickly as possible.
      • WMTS offices will have essential office staff only report to work. Please leave voice or email messages <info@westernmainetrans.org>.

Communications and Media

Internet Access

Media

Education

Kindergarten through High School

Colleges

Exercise and Recreation

This Directory of Resources includes organizations and properties in Brunswick. See the separate Outdoor Recreation Guide for information about enjoying the rest of Maine.

Animals and Pets

  • Midcoast Humane is one of the biggest animal shelters in Maine, operating facilities in Brunswick and Edgecomb that provide care for almost 4,000 animals every year.
    midcoasthumane.org
    www.facebook.com/midcoasthumane
    • Needs:
      • Money: emergency funding urgently needed
      • Pet food
      • Non-clumping, unscented cat litter.
    • Opportunities:
      • Donate money: make checks payable to Midcoast Humane and mail to 190 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011; call (207) 449-1366 x109; or give online.
      • Donate items: drop off food and cat litter at 30 Range Road in Brunswick. Do NOT drop off other items (linens, toys, etc.).
      • Vote for Midcoast Humane in the April dog of the month contest.
      • Volunteer: help family and friends by providing pet food or offering to house pets should their owners become sick or hospitalized.
    • Services:
      • Currently closed to the public.
      • Surrenders: If you are able to keep your pet, please do. If you live in Brunswick and need to surrender your animal as an emergency case, call (207) 499-1366 x208.
      • Adoptions: dog adoptions continue by appointment only.

Volunteering and Service

Childcare

Disaster Response and Recovery

Emergency Management Agencies

Worship 

Culture, Arts and Knowledge

  • Curtis Memorial Library is a public library in downtown Brunswick.
    curtislibrary.com
    www.facebook.com/curtislibrary
    • Info:
    • Services:
      • Contact-free curbside pickup of books, DVDs, audiobooks and other materials Mon – Fri 9:30 am – 6 pm; Sat 9:30 am – 1 pm.
        • Reserve items by phone (207) 725-5242 or online.
        • You will be notified when your items are ready.
        • Call (207) 725-5242 when you arrive at the pickup area outside the Middle Street entry.
        • Your items will be brought to you in a bag with your last name on it, placed on a table in the pickup area.
        • Take your items but maintain social distancing from other patrons.
      • Library is not accessible for private events.
  • Maine State Music Theatre is a non-profit performing arts organization in Brunswick that offers live performances during the summer in Pickard Theater on Bowdoin’s campus, and rents costumes to other theaters throughout the year.
    msmt.org
    www.facebook.com/msmtfan
  • Pejepscot History Center is dedicated to the work of preserving and sharing the history and culture of the Pejepscot Region – specifically the towns of Brunswick, Harpswell, and Topsham, Maine.
    http://pejepscothistorical.org/
    https://www.facebook.com/PejepscotHistorical/
    • Services:
      • Closed until further notice.
  • Brunswick Public Art is an independent group of volunteers dedicated to fostering art in public spaces in Brunswick.
    www.brunswickpublicart.org
    www.facebook.com/brunswickpublicart

Community and Neighborhoods

  • NorthWest Brunswick Neighborhood Association is a network of homeowners, landlords and tenants in Brunswick, Maine, bounded by Mill Street to the north, Maine Street to the east, the railway line and Pleasant Street to the south, and Spring Street to the west.
    historicnorthwest.wordpress.com
    www.facebook.com/nwbna
  • Nextdoor.com is a privately-held company based in San Francisco that provides an online hub for exchanging information, goods and services with neighbors.
    nextdoor.com
    www.facebook.com/Nextdoor

Business Associations and Directories

Directory of Businesses

The goal here is to cover all for-profit businesses in Brunswick, but that may be a bit too ambitious. I’m starting with all restaurants and cafes.

Dining Guide

Please let me <fred.horch@gmail.com> know if I’m missing any restaurant, brew pub or cafe physically located in Brunswick, Maine.

Other Resource Guides

COVID-19 Resource Guides

Food Resource Guides

Legal Resource Guides

Business Resource Guides

Facebook Groups

Members of Support Brunswick can see a list of other Facebook groups Recommended by the Admins by clicking on About when using the Support Brunswick group on Facebook.

Brunswick, Maine, Facebook Groups

  • Support Brunswick
    www.facebook.com/groups/support.brunswick/
    Help grow and share the list of needs, opportunities to help, and services available to support people in Brunswick, Maine, and surrounding communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Brunswick, Maine
    www.facebook.com/groups/1031714967199731/
    For people to reach out for support and for other members to offer support during the COVID-19 School Closures.
  • CAREmongering Brunswick Maine Area
    www.facebook.com/groups/907322073034897/
    This group is for sharing and organizing community resources in response to COVID-19. The goal is to organize the Brunswick-area community on the grassroots level to ensure vulnerable community members have access to food, housing, healthcare, and other necessities. It is also for the redistribution of resources in the case that stockpiling prevents people from accessing basics. You can also post requests for aid/support here. Please share any opportunities or (online) events that may be helpful to support community members!
  • Brunswick Community United
    www.facebook.com/groups/brunswickparentsunited/
    Represents a community of Brunswick residents, parents, grandparents and business owners who are committed to protecting and preserving the Brunswick public schools.
  • Brunswick Area Indivisible
    www.facebook.com/groups/159767107846908/
    A volunteer group whose goals are: promoting awareness, knowledge, and action via peaceful means; building a community that supports and protects the values of inclusion, tolerance, and fairness; protecting the environment; and preserving our democracy for this and future generations.

Surrounding Communities Facebook Groups

  • Freeport Friends
    www.facebook.com/groups/2255503771403720/
    Identifies urgent needs in the Freeport community and the RSU5 schools and matches them up with a volunteer who can help.
  • Topsham Cares!
    www.facebook.com/groups/204238834169917/
    Nancy Coleman created this private group on March 23. She writes, “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and now seems like the perfect time to start knowing how to find one another when we want to, even if we can’t find one another in person. For the unforeseen, for the ice storm and the power outage and the virus and for having a dance party when the spirit moves. For community.”
  • Harpswell Aging at Home
    www.facebook.com/HarpswellAgingAtHome/
    Harpswell Aging at Home (HAH) is helping older residents of Harpswell connect to the services and supports they need to live at home.

Midcoast Maine Facebook Groups

  • Midcoast Restaurant & Business Highlights During Covid-19
    www.facebook.com/groups/584829495447669/
    For businesses to share when they are open and any special updates they have during the Covid-19 social distancing era.  Customers and citizens are encouraged to read through the updates to see which businesses are still open and how you can support them.

Cumberland County Facebook Groups

  • Better Together – Cumberland County (ME)
    www.facebook.com/groups/BTCumberland
    Better Together – Cumberland County (ME) is a location-specific donation coordination group. Our goal is to act as a bridge connecting those who need specific items with those looking to donate specific items. All are welcome but you must live or work within Cumberland County, Maine.

Statewide Maine Facebook Groups

  • Maine Needs
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaineNeeds/
    MAINE NEEDS is a grassroots organization, powered by a growing collective of volunteers. This group is all about rallying help, collecting donations and funneling to non profits, schools and churches. Maine Needs is not set up to get what you need directly, but is growing sixteen county-specific groups in Maine to connect you with your community and get you the help you need locally or allow you to help others locally.
  • Maine Coronavirus Community Assistance
    www.facebook.com/groups/mainecoronaviruscommunityassistance/
    If you are someone who is in need of help, please feel free to post your need to the group and be sure and include what county you are in so they can get you connected to folks near you. If you are someone who wants to help out, feel free to engage with the group using productive posts, find your county under topics to get local updates, or search through their active requests for help. As of March 23, the group narrowed its focus back to COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE. From here on out they will only be approving posts that are either “helpful” or “help requests.”
  • Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Maine (Coronavirus)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/771357256605651/
    This group is to support individuals and families quarantined or affected by Coronavirus and unable to leave home. These are needs others might be able to solve.

About Support Brunswick

Support Brunswick is a public Facebook group open to anyone who is interested in the needs, opportunities, and services to support people in Brunswick and surrounding communities. Our mission is to help every governmental agency, non-profit organization and resident of Brunswick and surrounding communities coordinate efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our vision is to connect people with helpful resources and accurate information as quickly and conveniently as possible.

Support Brunswick is non-partisan and mission driven. We require that all posts further our mission. Please do your best (and help us to do our best!) to refrain from advertising more than once a week, campaigning, or otherwise self-promoting.

Our group admins are Fred and Hadley Horch, Corey Perry Perreault, Poppy Arford, and Kathy Wilson. We have invited all legislative candidates for Brunswick to help us manage this group fairly for all concerned.

You may make a request for personal assistance anonymously by messaging Corey or Poppy. One of them will post your request on the Support Brunswick Facebook group for you so you can follow up with any offer of help that meets your needs.

If you join the Support Brunswick Facebook group, here are tips to get the most out of your membership:

  • Share: Please share interesting posts from this group to your Facebook friends or on your timeline.
  • Invite: Please invite your Facebook friends to join this group to make it stronger and better for everyone involved.
  • Tags: Each post in this group will have a tag (such as Info, Question, Opportunity). A list of Popular Topics in Posts is shown next to the Discussion thread. Clicking on a tag will filter posts so you can quickly find what you need.
  • Group Files: Find helpful resources under Recent Group Files. Every day, volunteers verify and organize the information shared on Facebook and add it to the daily snapshot of the Support Brunswick Resource Guide you can find in this list of files.
  • Search this group: Find posts by keyword search.

Notes

This Resource Guide is available freely to anyone. You are welcome to copy and and use any or all of the information in it for any purpose. I only ask that you remove my name from any version that you edit. If you make changes, please replace this Notes section with your own notes indicating the changes you have made to the original document.

This guide focuses on needs, opportunities, and services available in Brunswick. It is intended to be comprehensive, inclusive, and helpful. I am systematically adding all organizations or projects that have a web site or an official Facebook page or group and serve people in Brunswick. If you represent an organization or project that serves people in Brunswick, please send information to me <fred.horch@gmail.com> or post on Support Brunswick. I will do my best to use that information in the next edition of the Resource Guide.

If your organization or project does not wish to be included in the Resource Guide, please alert me so we can have a conversation. If an organization’s web page and Facebook presence have both been discontinued, I will remove that organization from the Resource Guide.

Our governmental agencies and organizations support people from surrounding communities as well as people in Brunswick. I welcome you, wherever you live, to help Support Brunswick and make this resource guide as useful as possible for you, regardless of your place of origin or residence.

I link to other Resource Guides that have a larger scope, so people who don’t find what they need in our Resource Guide know where else they might go to get or give help.

I welcome additional editors, especially those who can use Google docs. This information is provided on a best-effort basis with no guarantee of accuracy. Links to web pages and official Facebook pages or groups are provided wherever possible. Please follow the links for the latest information from each organization.

Style guide:

  • Each entry includes a one-sentence factual description of the organization or project, written by me or another volunteer from Support Brunswick, a link to the organization’s website, and a link to the official Facebook group or page. If the organization does not have a website or an official Facebook presence, that is noted.
  • Each entry includes Info, Needs, Opportunities, and Services. If no information is available about one of those subjects, the heading is not listed.
  • Info provides information about the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Each Need begins with a noun.
  • Each Opportunity begins with a verb.
  • Services describe how the organization currently interacts with the public.
  • Entries can be listed in more than one category. For example, information about General Assistance can be found under Money and Government.
  • For local phone numbers use (207) yyy-zzzz format; for long distance use 1-xxx-yyy-zzzz.
  • Bracket email addresses as Fred Horch <fred.horch@gmail.com>.
  • Use am and pm for time. Include minutes only when precise time is necessary.

[Personal note: boy, adding this style guide brings back memories of editing the High Technology Law Journal — now called the Berkeley Technology Law Journal — when I was in law school, The Phoenix when I was at Swarthmore, and our student newspaper at Highland High School. Hello all you long-suffering law students and student journalists out there! Good luck with your articles.]

This document is provided as a public service by Fred Horch of Brunswick, Maine, with help from the members of Support Brunswick. Please join us at