SCARBOROUGH

Audubon seeks volunteers for marsh projects and store

Volunteers at Maine Audubon’s Scarborough Marsh Nature Center will help with bird monitoring and an inventory of plants and insects, among other roles. Courtesy Maine Audubon

Maine Audubon is looking for volunteers ages 14 and older to help with a variety of tasks at the Scarborough Marsh Nature Center.

Volunteers are needed to help with bird monitoring in July and August, and with Biodiversity Day in July to inventory all insects and plants in the marsh. These monitoring projects document what species live in the marsh and note any changes over time.

Volunteers are also needed at the Nature Store to run the register, organize store merchandise, answer phone calls, greet visitors and assist with canoe rentals.

For more information and a list of volunteer opportunities, go to maineaudubon.org/find-us/scarborough-marsh or call 883-5100.

PORTLAND/BANGOR

Bank foundation grants help 10 Maine organizations

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, awarded $65,500 in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the communities it serves.

Ten organizations received funding for activities ranging from job training and affordable housing initiatives to basic needs and STEM programs.

The recipients are Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, $3,500; Camp Capella in Holden, $5,000; Eastern Agency on Aging in Bangor, $5,000; Four Directions Development Corp. in Orono, $7,500; Genesis Fund in Damariscotta, $9,000; Greater Portland Charitable Furniture Center in Portland, $3,500; Maine Housing and Building Materials Exchange in Lisbon, $4,000; Wayside Food Programs in Portland, $3,000; Goodwill Industries of Northern New England in Portland, $10,000; and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, $15,000.

Two gifts keep health care available at free clinic

The Friends of the Portland Community Free Clinic recently received two gifts to secure ongoing operations.

A news release about the gifts says, “Alice, an otherwise anonymous donor from Freeport, made the Friends a recipient of a portion of her trust fund, a value equal to about $100,000 and available upon her passing.”

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation also pledged $27,000. The funds will support services at the free clinic toward a total budget of $99,154 for fiscal year 2016, allowing the staff and volunteers to keep providing high-quality medical care to those in need.

BRUNSWICK

Credit union wins award for teaching financial literacy

Atlantic Regional Federal Credit Union has won the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award.

The annual award is presented by the Maine Credit Union League to a credit union that exemplifies leadership in teaching financial literacy for all ages.

Atlantic’s community outreach and education specialist, Adam Caron, and employees visited classrooms in local elementary, middle and high schools to teach students the importance of money-management skills.

The group held about 100 teaching sessions with 11 schools and organizations throughout Cumberland County. The topics have included: saving versus spending, checking accounts, budgeting, credit cards, loans and credit scores.

AUBURN

Backyard Farms gives tons of tomatoes to food bank

The Good Shepherd Food Bank announced that Backyard Farms, a year-round grower of tomatoes in Maine, is among its top food donors.

“We are proud to be based in the state of Maine and feel fortunate that our fresh tomatoes can be part of the solution in meeting a pressing need,” said Stuart Jablon, president of Backyard Farms, in a news release. “Unfortunately, hunger is a major issue in our state and we feel a responsibility to help.”

Hannaford and Wal-Mart rank first and second, respectively, as the top two food donors to Good Shepherd. In 2014, Hannaford donated 7.5 million pounds of food, 32 percent of which was produce. Wal-Mart donated 4.1 million with 29 percent being produce. Backyard Farms came in third with 613,402 pounds donated, all of which was fresh, locally grown produce.

ORONO

Time to nominate women for leadership, justice awards

Nominations are being accepted for the Maryann Hartman Awards for Maine Women of Achievement and the Maryann Hartman Young Women’s Social Justice Award.

The awards are presented to three distinguished Maine women who have demonstrated strong leadership and role modeling in their fields and who reflect and honor Hartman’s commitment to women and community. Previous winners include Margaret Chase Smith, Olympia Snowe, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Dora Anne Mills, Shenna Bellows, Tabitha King and Jennifer Finney Boylan.

The Maryann Hartman Young Women’s Social Justice Award recognizes a young woman 12 to 18 years old who has shown dedication to justice and to social change by actively promoting equality, encouraging diversity and tolerance, and improving her community. Previous recipients include Nicole Maines, Erin Williams, JoAnn Bourque, Sarah Eaton and Lindsay Richardson.

Since 1986, the Maryann Hartman Awards Ceremony has celebrated significant contributions by Maine women in a variety of fields. Hartman was a University of Maine associate professor of speech communication from 1969 to 1980 and a pioneer in the field of oral interpretation. She died of cancer in 1980.

The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 28. To request nomination forms, call 581-1228 or visit umaine.edu/womensgenderandsexualitystudies/maryann-hartman-award.

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