Skowhegan Savings Charitable Foundation awards $50,000 to the Heart of Maine Resource Center
DEXTER — The Heart of Maine Resource Center announces a gift awarded by the Skowhegan Savings Charitable Foundation in the amount $50,000 to support the organization’s capital campaign for a new resource center. The site for the new center will be 6 Main Street in Dexter, a three-storey building donated to the organization. The building served the town of Dexter in many ways, but most notably as Bert Call’s photography studio and gallery for many years until his death in 1965.
The food pantry operated by the Heart of Maine Resource Center was founded in 2020 and distributes approximately 1,700 boxes of food to their neighbors every year. Food distribution programs will be located on the renovated first floor of 6 Main Street, providing permanent storage, refrigeration, and office space. Andrew Bermudez, chair of the board of directors and founder of the Heart of Maine Resource Center told guests at the Jan. 11 event that the building’s second and third floors will provide space for other collaborating nonprofits, meeting space, offices, and workforce development initiatives.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION — The Heart of Maine Resource Center was awarded $50,000 from the Skowhegan Savings Charitable Foundation to support the organization’s capital campaign for a new resource center at 6 Main Street in Dexter. From left, Laura Gordon, executive director Heart of Maine Resource Center; Andrew Bermudez, board chair Heart of Maine Resource Center; Andrew Fortin-Trimble, SV.P Skowhegan Savings Bank; Amanda Bell, community branch manager, Skowhegan Savings Bank Dexter; David Cyr, president and CEO of Skowhegan Savings Bank; Kelsee Bowman, regional banking manager, Skowhegan Savings Bank; and Angel Quick, VP of business cash management, Skowhegan Savings Bank.
“On behalf of the board of directors of the Heart of Maine Resource Center and the thousands of people we serve, I want to thank the Skowhegan Savings Foundation for this gift,” Bermudez said. “It has jump-started our campaign, and we appreciate their generous support.”
Ben Robinson, CEO of Renewal by Anderson and honorary chair of the capital campaign, also recognized and thanked members of the Skowhegan Savings Bank team who have been instrumental in helping raise funds for this capital project. He acknowledged Angel Quick, VP of business cash management; Kelsee Bowman, regional banking manager; and Amanda Bell, community branch manager in Dexter, for their valuable service on the capital campaign team and the foundation’s generous lead gift.
“Skowhegan Savings has shown leadership and commitment to this very worthy project and our new campaign’s goal of $500,000,” Robinson said. “We hope other business leaders and organizations will join with them in making a lasting contribution to the children, families, young adults, students, and small businesses of this area for generations to come.”
To learn more about the Heart of Maine Resource Center please visit www.theheartofmaine.org.
To donate or join the capital campaign, please contact dbrennandaly@gmail.com or lgordon@theheartofmaine.org.