Aroostook County assistance programs.
Locate financial assistance programs as well as places for free stuff in Presque Isle and the county. A number of charities, social services and government programs are listed below. They try to help qualified low income households as well as struggling families with basic needs - whether housing, utility bill help, free food or something else. Get help and find resources in Aroostook County.
Senior programs
Aroostook Area Agency on Aging offers programs for the seniors and elderly in the community. The non-profit can provide information and various forms of assistance in accessing available programs and government benefits, both in Maine and federal government, including Medicare Part D, tax-rent refund program and LIHEAP utility and heating bill assistance. Call 207-764-3396
Financial assistance programs
St. Mary's Social Action Committee - This centers helps Aroostook families by providing formula and baby items, one time financial assistance with prescription expenses, used household items, limited financial assistance with paying for security deposits for housing, financial assistance with electricity expenses and heating bills. Dial 207-762-7711
Salvation Army of Lewiston (207783-0801) offers residents a food pantry, emergency assistance program (such as funds to help with rent, prescriptions, and other crisis’s support). The Salvation Army also has an on site mobile soup kitchen, heating bill assistance, winter clothing assistance, and even free fuel oil. Children and students from Aroostook County can also apply for free school supplies or Christmas toys or gifts from Adopt a Family.
The center will often have referrals to other non-profits and charities in Aroostook County. They also work with other Salvation Army centers in northern Maine. Most of the aid is for a crisis, for example to prevent an eviction or help those that are about to have their heat disconnected. More details on Aroostook County Salvation Army programs.
Call your town office in Aroostook County. The program provides temporary cash assistance with fuel and heating bills, utilities, free food, housing and rent help, non-elective medical necessities, and basic services essential to maintain a household in the community. The program is known as general assistance, and call your town for help.
Assistance Programs from Aroostook County Action Program, Inc.
This non-profit, which is located in Presque Isle, offers numerous programs for the low income and working poor in the community. Services offered include, but are not limited to:
- Job training and help find a job - Resources are provided for those individuals who have either never been fully employed and job help may also be offered for those individuals who have lost their jobs due to a layoff or cutbacks. Assistance provided by the community action agency may include career guidance, training, skill assessment, resume review, guidance in where and how to look for a job, and training in how to remain successfully employed to increase your income, and occupational skills training for those who qualify for the program.
- Energy Bill Crisis Intervention Program - This program provides up to $200 in cash grants to low to moderate income-eligible households. The funds are used to pay for emergency fuel delivery or an electrical disconnect emergency of their utility service. In addition, an extra $3,000 in cash aid is provided to income-eligible homeowners for the replacement or repair of dangerous, malfunctioning or inoperable heating appliances, hot water tanks or systems that pose a threat to health and safety to the individual.
- Child Care - This resource is for children from infancy to six years of age whose parents are employed, in training, or who may be seeking employment.
- After School Child Care - Supervised child care is provided for local children who range in age from six to twelve at ACAP Child and Family Centers in Caribou, Presque Isle, and Fort Kent Maine.
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)- This federal government funded program provides cash grants and financial assistance to income and program-eligible households to help meet winter heating bills.
- Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP) - This is a Maine statewide program that makes LIHEAP-qualified customers electricity more affordable by assisting with electric and heating bill payment.
- Rent assistance - Aid may be offered from the Homeless Prevention and Diversion Program. This service helps those individuals and families who are in imminent risk of homelessness, who may be facing an eviction, or for those individuals who are already homeless by providing financial assistance, funds and housing stabilization services.
- Food banks - Get a listing of pantries and food distribution centers.
- Home repairs - This is a program that provides grants or low-interest loans to income and program-eligible homeowners for home rehabilitation, repairs, energy conserving updates, and supplemental grants for lead hazard reduction.
- Weatherization - Free home energy saving improvements can help people save hundreds of dollar on their heating and utility bills.
- Foreclosure and mortgage help - Homeowners can get information, counseling, advocacy, and access to resources to help people avoid foreclosure and get information on mortgage assistance programs. A housing counselor will provide one-on-one assistance to homeowners; assistance includes dealing with debts, determining a budget and payment plan for the homeowner in cooperation with the bank or lender to prevent default or foreclosure. More on Maine mortgage programs.
Call Aroostook County Action Program, Inc. at (207) 764-3721
Prescription drugs and medical care
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center - Affordable preventative health and medical care and education. There is free or low cost medical or dental, including to people with no health insurance. Or get low cost or free prescription drug program is also run at the facility. Lewiston Maine. Call (207) 777-8100..
Food, free meals and emergency aid
The locations below may have free emergency food boxes, groceries, or serve holiday meals. There are pantries as well as soup kitchens for the hungry and low income. Some also operate free Meals on Wheels programs.
Bread of Life Food Pantry at Vineyard Christian Fellowship - 207-345-9501
Good Shepherd Food Bank - Auburn Maine - 207-783-1200.
Trinity Jubilee Center - 782-5700
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