BRUNSWICK

Eight local nonprofit groups have received a total of $47,258 in grants from The Maine Women’s Giving Tree, a local philanthropy that supports programs focusing on the needs of women, children and families in the mid-coast region. Since awarding its first grants in 2012 MWGT has contributed nearly $150,000 to support projects in communities from Freeport to Wiscasset.

This year’s MWGT grant awards bolster efforts ranging from an all-volunteer effort founded by a Harpswell woman to help veterans recover from the effects of Post traumatic stress, to expanded free dental care for residents of Freeport, Brunswick, Harpswell, and Sagadahoc County, to a career development program in Bath that helps place adults with disabilities in jobs, among others.

MWGT co-president Susan Mikesell of Woolwich announced the grant awards at a reception held this afternoon at Brunswick’s Curtis Memorial Library and attended by community leaders, representatives of the grant recipients, members and friends of the Maine Women’s Giving Tree. They noted that MWGT received a record number of 29 applications in 2016, with requests for funding totaling more than $190,000.

“We salute this year’s grantees for the wonderful work they are doing in our communities and only regret that our limited funds made it impossible for us to support all 29 of the worthy programs that applied for our support,” Mikesell said. “The human service needs of women, children and families in the Midcoast area remain overwhelming, and we urge others who share our commitment to helping our neighbors who are most in need to join us.”

The 2016 grant awards and the funded projects are:

• Embrace a Vet, Harpswell: $6,270 awarded to enable three female veterans in the mid-coast area who are suffering from Post- Traumatic Stress and/or Traumatic Brain Injury to participate in five-day healing and wellness retreats.

• Family Crisis Services, Brunswick: $7,400 awarded to fund a new program for victims of domestic abuse living in the Brunswick area, which will establish weekly support groups and provide court advocacy.

• Home to Home, West Bath: $3,000 awarded to enhance the supervised visitation of children whose parents are involved in high-conflict relationships and are subject to court proceedings.

• Independence Association, Brunswick: $5,590 awarded to fund its Case Management Program for adults and children with disabilities by providing new laptop computers, which will help case managers give their clients quicker and more seamless service.

• Oasis Free Clinic, Brunswick: $8,320 awarded to expand daytime services at the community dental clinic, which serves residents of Freeport, Brunswick, Harpswell and Sagadahoc County, by supporting the salary of one additional, part-time dental hygienist.

• Pine Tree Society, Bath: $6,278 awarded to support PeerWork, a career development program for adults with disabilities, which offers temporary employment opportunities where they can gain marketable skills and self-esteem enabling them to move on to permanent positions.

• Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Topsham: $7,500 awarded to support the Topsham Health Center’s Charity Care Program, which provides free or reduced reproductive health care services for local residents.

• People Plus Teen Center, Brunswick: $2,500 awarded to provide food and beverages for young people participating in Teen Center activities who lack adequate food.

Mikesell acknowledged co-founders Sandra Neiman of Brunswick and Judy Woodman of Harpswell for their “extraordinary vision, hard work and dedication to assisting Midcoast nonprofit agencies meet the needs of women, children and families.”

For more information, visit mainewomensgivingtree.org.