"Little by little, a little becomes a lot." – Tanzanian Proverb

No single program or tool can lift a family out of poverty, but a network of pooled resources can become a pathway to family stability or help an older resident stay in their home longer.

The Community Caring Collaborative is deeply invested in the short-term and long-term well being of our neighbors in Washington County and Passamaquoddy communities. We work with partners from local agencies, institutions and initiatives to respond to challenges at the individual and community level, and have developed strategies that work, such as flexible funding programs focusing on specific goals for community members, a durable medical equipment exchange, and a comprehensive platform for connecting people to resources. Following is a brief description of each of these endeavors, any of which you can choose to fund specifically with your donation.

The Hope Fund provides for one-time financial expenses that threaten the well-being of a family in Washington County. It is designed to be one part of an overall plan of services or supports. Awards are made for housing, transportation, medical, mental health, dental, employment, and education.

The Dream Fund allows children and young adults to pursue something that gives them joy and is beyond the financial capacity of their family. Funds have helped children attend camps, take music lessons, enroll in classes such as dance or art as well as purchasing items for children like a traditional drum for a Passamaquoddy child, sensory items, bicycles and other items that will help nurture a child's dream.

The Joy Fund assists first-time homebuyers make the transition to home ownership by providing funds for home inspections related to a home purchase. Inspections are the best tool to navigate home repair and maintenance, offer a negotiation chip, and/or avoid costly repairs before committing to the purchase.

Flex Funds are immediately-available resources for families during emergencies or other small, important expenses. Integral to the success of CCC model programs like Family Futures Downeast and partner programs CCC supports like Start Up Downeast, Flex Funds may be used for childcare during class time, auto repairs, work supplies, eyeglasses as well as many other barriers families face while working towards their education.

The Connection Initiative (TCI) is a county-wide program hosted and coordinated by the CCC that connects community members to needed resources. It uses an online platform that allows the moderator to connect community members to needed resources or organizations. A person can email, call/text, use Facebook Messenger or visit TCI’s website to reach out for help.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME), like wheel chairs, walkers, hospital beds, bath or shower chairs, and bedside commodes, play a huge role in a patient’s transition from the hospital after surgery and continued safety. Many of these expensive medical items are not covered by health insurance but might be required for older Mainers and those with chronic illness to either convalesce after a hospital stay or remain at home for as long as possible. The CCC coordinates the donating and borrowing of DME through The Connection Initiative.

Thank you for your support! Your gift will be processed by our fiscal sponsor, Sunrise Opportunities, and is fully tax-deductible.

Help CCC fund its community programs

By Community Caring Collaborative

Help CCC fund its community programs