On October 16th, 2020, Maine Needs opened the doors to our first home on Forest Ave. We had no furniture, no staff, no five-year plan. But we had a simple idea; to build a volunteer-powered community donation center where we could take in gently used and new material essentials and distribute them for free statewide to individuals and families going without. On day one, we posted to social media and asked people to show up with their donations. And they did. Some even stayed to volunteer.

Five years later, we moved into a 16,000 square foot space where we welcome volunteers six days a week and fill an average of 150 requests each day to meet the needs of more than 78,000 people statewide each year. Our network of partners has grown to over 500 providers from 265 organizations and programs in all 16 counties.

Maine Needs is, and always has been, a community effort. It’s about people coming together, seeing ourselves in one another, honoring our shared humanity and offering what we have to give so that no one is going without the basics. It’s rooted in compassion and connection. And we want to celebrate all we’ve built together - with you!