Grant allows program to continue services

    The Central Aroostook Mentoring Program recently received a $4,500 grant, to support mentoring of children in the Central Aroostook area, from the Aroostook County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF). This support will help to keep services continuing to over 40 children during this period of economic decline. With fuel prices high, charges for background checks, postage rising and fewer donations being made, support for mentoring has suffered.     “We recently had to cut our hours of operation to 35 hours per week,” reported Carolyn Hildebrand, CAMP program coordinator. “We are very grateful for the Maine Community Foundation support.”
    “This grant will allow us to continue services to the children in the central Aroostook area, but more support is definitely needed,” said Hildebrand. “We need more mentors to help address the 140 referrals for mentors that have not yet been met, as well as more funding assistance.”
    The annual budget for CAMP this year is about $43,000. Between funds received from the Maine Community Foundation, the Annual Bowl-A-Thon fund-raiser, and the United Way, CAMP is still about $7,000 short in meeting their annual operating expenses during this fiscal year.
    For 25 years the Maine Community Foundation has been partnering with donors and community groups to strengthen Maine through grants and scholarships.  For more information, visit the foundation’s Web site at www.mainecf.org or call toll-free 877-700-6800.