Dave, a Resident of Munjoy Hill, is Wearing a Handsome Face Covering Stitched by His Wife from an Old T-Shirt of His. Behind That Covering is a Smiling, Nice Guy!
Publisher and CEO Lisa DeSisto Makes Recent Plea for Donations in Exchange for Comprehensive Coverage of the Pandemic. It Needs the Funds Because of the Dramatic Loss of Revenue from Lack of Advertising During the State’s Shutdown.
United Way of Portland announced it has awarded $259,073 in its second round of grants from the Greater Portland COVID-19 Community Relief Fund to 25 local nonprofits, schools and faith-based groups on the frontlines working with individuals and families disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of this outbreak according to a press release issued by United Way late last week.
The emergency fund has grown to more than $650,000 thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors, leadership donors and individual contributors. United Way awarded $229,239 in the initial round of grants on April 9th to 31 organizations addressing critical needs across Cumberland County according to the press release.
The organizations that received this second round of grants are listed as follows: Amistad, Crosswalk Community Outreach, Cultivating Community, Falmouth Food Pantry, Inc., Foundation for Portland Public Schools, Full Plates Full Potential, Gray Community Food Pantry, Greater Portland Family Promise, Hand in Hand/Mano en Mano, Harrison Food Bank, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN), New England Arab American Organization, Preble Street, Presentel Maine, Project GRACE, Shalom House, Inc., South Portland Food Cupboard, Spurwink, St.Vincent Soup Kitchen Portland Maine, The Opportunity Alliance, Through These Doors, Volunteers of America Northern New England, Woodfords Family Services.
What? Can’t be so. Nothing for the Portland Press Herald, a/k/a the Republican Press Herald? The paper’s collective hands have been outstretched for weeks looking for donations to keep them afloat because of a significant loss of revenue due to decreased advertising during this shutdown in Maine.
Additional grants will be awarded on a rolling basis by United Way to address emergency needs as they come to light. Maybe the Republican Press Herald will benefit in the next round if they keep begging for donations. Before you bust open your piggy bank or raid your child’s college bank account to keep DeSisto afloat, remember that the pro-Susan Collins up for re-election daily probably qualifies by now as a non-profit according to their multiple requests for donations. No doubt this oversight will be addressed in the next round of awards.