Maine Needs started as an idea. An idea that the power of social media could be used to get people’s basic material needs met.

This idea didn’t work because of the person who had the idea, it worked because so many other people also wanted to know how to help their neighbor. It worked because people don’t want the things they donate to be priced out of reach for the people who need them most.

Since the Facebook group was started back in January of 2019, the response has always been an eagerness and curiosity to understand where to donate, what is actually needed and what isn’t. Caseworkers, teachers and street outreach teams played a crucial role in informing all of us and that is what shaped our focus. We didn’t become a tax deductible non profit until late October of 2020, that didn’t stop anyone from buying what was needed. It didn’t slow the number of volunteers and it didn’t prevent us from fundraising for our own donation center.

Why? Because people are burnt out from the injustices they see, feel and experience in the world and they want to know how to help. They aren’t doing it for credit or a tax deduction or even a thank you. They are doing it because it matters to them. That is the driving force behind Maine Needs.

Maine Needs is a community effort that can be duplicated in your own community. We put together this guide to support those who are ready to make an impact but not sure where to start.