Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I N O. X X I I G I V I N G G U I D E 2 0 2 0 – 2 0 2 1 8 corporate gift sponsors such as Han- naford, Harvard Pilgrim, and Maine credit unions provided much-needed financial assistance, says Fogg. "We cannot underscore enough how much Mainers helped the Food Bank and our network of partners throughout the pandemic," Fogg says. Amistad creates a new way to offer services Imagine serving clients with peer sup- port and addiction recovery services and suddenly not being able to meet in- person. at's been the case for Amistad, a Portland-based nonprofit. "All of our programming is in southern Maine where we have nine programs," says Brian Townsend, executive director. e pandemic shutdown forced the sites to close, which left the nonprofit grasping for ways to serve its clients. Many of those Amistad serves expe- rience homelessness and the majority struggle with mental health and/or sub- stance abuse issues. Typically, the orga- nization offers free meals, some 150 to 200 per day, along with showers, laundry facilities, computers and peer support. "ose centers are really vital resources in the community," says Townsend. Amistad had to pivot — and quickly. "ere was a need for a very intense, very immediate deliberation about what we do next for the community, and how we do it," says Townsend. "e team really solved it and leadership just enacted their solutions." e most immediate need was for food. Partnering with Cooking for Community was a "natural connection point," says Townsend. From there, the nonprofit obtained masks and PPE in order to stay connected to its clients. "We basically shifted our entire agency from being mostly site-based to being entirely outreach defined without any space for the general public," Townsend says. Most of the nonprofit's clients were staying in tent villages, campgrounds, motels or emergency shelters. So the Amistad staff hit the streets, meeting clients where they were. While there were challenges to address — particularly keeping staff safe and advocating for hazard pay for those on the front lines — Townsend says that the result of the pivot has been transformative in a positive way for the organization. "It feels like a very authentic human connection with the people that we're supporting," says Townsend. "It's breaking down some very old divides. I think there's more empathy and less stigma in the atmosphere and I think that's something we've been able to leverage in the work." In Her Presence faced a host of complex needs Navigating the nonprofit system to find food, shelter, childcare and other neces- sary services can be difficult for anyone. For immigrants who are unfamiliar with the landscape and language, additional barriers must be overcome. In Her Pres- ence is a nonprofit that serves New Americans through language groups, food, assistance, help filing legal paper- work. It also supports women socially, emotionally and culturally. When COVID-19 hit, the non- profit had to quickly develop a new way to work with its clients. Clau- dette Ndayininahaze, executive direc- tor at In Her Presence, stated that the language barrier — a challenge during normal times — was height- ened during the pandemic. Still, the organization addressed client needs. e nonprofit helped 25 mothers con- tinue working despite their school- aged children being home. It delivered food to clients and purchased phone cards so that clients could continue to participate in programs remotely. One volunteer even offered to keep a U-Haul storage container on their property, allowing clients to safely pick up essential goods. Participants in the program gave back, too. Clients sewed hundreds of masks for the community which were donated to Preble Street and Wayside Food Programs, says Ndayininahaze. Other changes were required too. "IHP programming has transitioned from weekly classes to a variety of virtual supports," says Ndayininahaze. ese include services to make stressful home environments safe for women, children, and the elderly during the pandemic by increasing knowledge through a public- health education campaign. "In the end, the big challenge was to keep hope, which was difficult at the beginning," says Ndayininahaze. "But we came together to build strength." e organization's two co-founders, Ndayininahaze and Abusana Micky Bondo, had a clear vision of how to swiftly direct support during the COVID-19 outbreak. Because of this, the nonprofit was able to maintain the confi- dence of its clients. It was also able to help families learn about new opportunities and resources available to mitigate the pandemic, says Ndayininahaze. "We were able to advocate for different funding and become unre- stricted in the face of the crisis for direct support," she says. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 6 P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y G O O D S H E P H E R D F O O D B A N K At Ameriprise, we take the time to understand what's truly important to you. Whether it's charitable giving or personalized advice, I will work with you to help you achieve your goals. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame design) in the U.S. Investment advisory products and services are made availablethrough Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., a registered investment adviser © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. What's important to you is important to me. John Hughes, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP® Private Wealth Advisor 5 Ward Street, Scarborough, ME 04074 An Ameriprise Private Wealth Advisor CA Insurance #0G04816 Call me today to get started. (207) 883-4434 | john.x.hughes@ampf.com johnxhughes.com Areas of focus: • Charitable Giving Strategies • Retirement Planning • Investment Strategies • Wealth Preservation Strategies • Estate Planning Strategies " We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." — Sir Winston Churchill GIVING GUIDE

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