Westbrook, Maine – February 6, 2024 – 2 in 5 children in Maine are at risk for hunger. To help children access the nutrition they need to thrive, the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation approved a donation of $5,000 to The Locker Project, a nonprofit organization that provides more than forty Greater Portland schools, preschools, and local agencies with nourishing foods to improve their everyday lives.

The Foundation recently presented Kathryn Sargent, Executive Director and Keven Bogart, Deputy Director, with a check for $5,000, which will be used to provide students in need with healthy foods.

“Thank you for partnering with us to address child hunger in Greater Portland! With the support of this generous community, we were able to share more than 550,000 pounds of fresh food and staples with children and families in 2023. Your grant of $5,000 will make an enormous difference as we work to refill our shelves many times over in 2024,” said Sargent.

Together, Maine Community Bank and the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation contributed over $340,000 to several local non-profit organizations in 2023 and continues to support the local community through donations, volunteerism, and in-kind donations each year.

About Maine Community Bank

Maine Community Bank has been supporting Maine’s communities for over 150 years. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook, and Windham.

About the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation

The mission of the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation is to help individuals and families in the bank’s local communities meet their basic needs and achieve financial empowerment. In support of this long-term mission, the Foundation concentrates on the goals of providing support to families and individuals in our communities through health, housing, and hunger, as well as helping the next generation overcome issues of inequality and build unity across lines of differences in our communities. The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation was created in July of 2020 and is structured to give back to the communities in a larger, more enduring way.

Westbrook, Maine — January 8, 2024 — Maine Community Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Sam Rotondo as Assistant Vice President, Residential Loan Officer. Rotondo is responsible for originating residential mortgage loans and will be serving Greater Portland and Brunswick.

“I am looking forward to being in a position to best help my clients and the community in my new role at Maine Community Bank,” says Rotondo.

He comes to Maine Community Bank with several years of experience as a loan officer. Most recently Rotondo held the position of Mortgage Loan Officer at Androscoggin Bank.

Rotondo earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Southern Maine. He resides in Portland and in his spare time enjoys golfing.

About Maine Community Bank

Maine Community Bank began as a collaboration between two of the longest-standing community banks in Central and Southern Maine, Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings. Maine Community Bank supports both personal and business customers throughout Central and Southern Maine with competitive services, financial assistance, and the friendly, local experience that is at the core of everything they do. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook, and Windham.

Jeanne Hulit, President & CEO of Maine Community Bank, recently joined Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) on their monthly podcast “MEREDA Matters” where she and Steve deCastro, President & CEO of Gorham Savings Bank, spoke regarding our merger of equals.

Check it out: MEREDA Matters Episode 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westbrook, Maine – December 28, 2023 – According to data from Feeding America, 1 in 10 Mainers face hunger; and of those, 1 in 7 children. To help alleviate hunger issues in the community, Maine Community Bank is taking decisive action. Through the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Foundation, Maine Community Bank is donating $30,000 to 12 different organizations focused specifically on food insecurity.

To address this very serious problem, the Foundation has pledged individual donations of $2,500 each to 12 different organizations working to curb hunger. These include:

Good Shepard Food Bank

High Street Congregational Church Food Pantry

Biddeford Food Pantry

Community Outreach Services Food Pantry

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention

Saco Food Pantry

Scarborough Food Pantry

Stroudwater Christian Food Pantry

Trinity Jubilee Center

Waterboro Food Pantry

Westbrook Food Pantry

Windham Food Pantry and Clothes Closet

Each of the 12 hunger relief agencies provide essential services in partnership with food pantries, meal sites, senior and health centers, and schools across all 16 counties in Maine. MCB’s donation will provide 100,000 meals to needy Mainers.

“Your support assists us in our mission to help our neighbors who are in need. Your generous support makes it possible for our organization to exist and to make the community a great place to live,” said Jean Liden for Cleo Smith, director of Waterboro Food Pantry.

About Maine Community Bank

Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings have been financial partners with the people of Central and Southern Maine for the past 150 years. To help carry out their commitment to the communities they serve, the two banks merged on January 1, 2020, becoming divisions of Maine Community Bank. The merger expands the lending capacity, product offering, and branch service areas, while keeping all decision-making at the local level. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Windham, and Westbrook.

About the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Foundation

The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation was created in July of 2020 and is structured to give back to the communities in a larger, more enduring way. The Foundation’s mission is to help individuals and families in the bank’s local communities meet their basic needs and achieve financial empowerment.

Westbrook, Maine – November 21, 2023 – To support some of the most vulnerable individuals throughout the state, The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation delivered a donation of $10,000 to Sweetser, a community mental health organization whose mission is to provide quality treatment, support, and hope to children, families, and adults through a network of mental and behavioral health, recovery, and educational services. In recent years, the awareness and stigma surrounding mental health has lifted, but the access and affordability of these services has not.

The Foundation recently presented Jayne Van Bramer, President & CEO at Sweetser with a check for $10,000 which will be used to construct a safe recreational play area for young clients. As many youths do not have the vocabulary to describe how they feel, play is proven to aid in treating children with mental health issues, and safe play structures provide an essential health service to Sweetser’s young clients.

“Thank you to Maine Community Bank for their ongoing commitment to Sweetser, the clients we serve, and for their direct support assisting with our new outdoor recreation space on our Saco campus. This $10,000 donation will help us complete this project with our community partners. As we all know, outdoor play is good for children’s physical health, development, and mental well-being.”

Together, Maine Community Bank and the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation contributed over $335,000 to several local non-profit organizations in 2022 and continues to support the local community through donations, volunteerism and in-kind donations each year.

About Maine Community Bank

Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings have been financial partners with the people of Central and Southern Maine for the past 150 years. To help carry out their commitment to the communities they serve, the two banks merged on January 1, 2020, becoming divisions of Maine Community Bank. The merger expanded the lending capacity, product offerings, and branch service areas, while keeping all decision-making at the local level. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook and Windham.

About the Biddeford and Mechanics Charitable Savings Foundation

The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation was created in July of 2020 and is structured to give back to the communities in a larger, more enduring way. The Foundation’s mission is to help individuals and families in the bank’s local communities meet their basic needs and achieve financial empowerment.

Westbrook, Maine – To support families displaced by a recent fire at Perryman Village in Brunswick, The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation approved a donation of $5,000 to Brunswick Housing Authority, a community organization that owns and operates Perryman Village where five townhouse units were left unhabitable due to a recent fire. The Brunswick Housing Authority provides safe, quality, and affordable housing for eligible persons in need of assistance and promotes opportunities for the growth and development of residents as well as the community.

The Foundation recently presented John Hodge, Executive Director of Brunswick Housing Authority, with a check for $5,000, which will be used to support the families displaced in the fire.

“On behalf of the displaced families of the fire in Perryman Village, we are truly thankful for the outpouring of community support,” said John Hodge. “This is especially true of the generous support given to the families from Maine Community Bank. Their financial support will help to rebuild these families lives after such a traumatic event.”

Together, Maine Community Bank and the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation contributed over $335,000 to several local non-profit organizations in 2022 and continues to support the local community through donations, volunteerism and in-kind donations each year.

About Maine Community Bank
Maine Community Bank has been supporting Maine’s communities for over 150 years. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook, and Windham.

About the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation
The mission of the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation is to help individuals and families in the bank’s local communities meet their basic needs and achieve financial empowerment. In support of this long-term mission, the Foundation concentrates on the goals of providing support to families and individuals in our communities through health, housing, and hunger, as well as helping the next generation overcome issues of inequality and build unity across lines of differences in our communities. The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation was created in July of 2020 and is structured to give back to the communities in a larger, more enduring way.

Westbrook, Maine—May 1, 2023—Maine Community Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Jeanette Garvilles as Vice President, Senior Business Banker. Garvilles is responsible for promoting Maine Community Bank in the small business community and will be based in the Biddeford Main Street Branch.

“I am looking forward to working closely with the clients in my portfolio and getting to know each business owner and any key people in their business, as well as growing her portfolio and bringing new clients to MCB.” says Garvilles.

She comes to Maine Community Bank with 26 years of banking and small business lending experience. Most recently Garvilles held the position of Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager/Small Business Lender for Bangor Savings Bank.

Garvilles attended Quinnipiac College/University for two years and then transferred to the University of Southern Maine where she earned her Associates Degree in Business Administration. She resides in Saco with her husband and daughter. In her spare time, she enjoys the four seasons of Maine – snowmobiling, hiking, skiing, and boating.

About Maine Community Bank

Maine Community Bank began as a collaboration between two of the longest-standing community banks in Central and Southern Maine, Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings. Maine Community Bank supports both personal and business customers throughout Central and Southern Maine with competitive services, financial assistance, and the friendly, local experience that is at the core of everything they do. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook, and Windham.

Westbrook, Maine—May 1, 2023—Maine Community Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Cecilia Estrada as Assistant Vice President, Residential Loan Officer. Estrada is responsible for originating residential mortgage loans and will be based in Westbrook.

“I believe people do three huge things that change their lives; they get married, have children, and buy a home,” says Estrada. “I love that I get to be a part of the home buying process. It is a great wealth creator for families.”

She comes to Maine Community Bank with more than 30 years of experience in Mortgage Lending. Most recently Estrada held the position of a Mortgage Loan Officer for Key Bank.

Estrada resides in Old Orchard Beach. Her grandparents were immigrants from Mexico. They believed that owning property was one of the single most important privileges of being American. “I love being able to help others achieve the Great American Dream!”

About Maine Community Bank

Maine Community Bank began as a collaboration between two of the longest-standing community banks in Central and Southern Maine, Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings. Maine Community Bank supports both personal and business customers throughout Central and Southern Maine with competitive services, financial assistance, and the friendly, local experience that is at the core of everything they do. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook, and Windham.

Westbrook, Maine – April 28, 2023 – To support some of the most vulnerable individuals throughout the state, The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation approved a donation of $30,000 to Tedford Housing, a community organization with a central belief that everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable home. Tedford Housing provides emergency homeless shelter, supportive housing for previously homeless families and individuals, as well as homeless prevention services.

The Foundation recently presented Tedford Housing with a check for $10,000, the first installment of a three-year $30,000 commitment, which will be used toward their newly proposed 17,568 square foot facility in Brunswick. The new facility will replace the existing building, which the organization has outgrown, and will increase their emergency housing capacity and family emergency capacity to a total of 64 emergency housing beds.

“This project is going to transform Tedford’s ability to meet our mission, during a time of overwhelming need for our services,” said Andrew Lardie, Tedford’s Interim Executive Director. “But it’s going to take all of us in the community lifting together, and this generous gift from the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation takes us a big step closer to that vision.”

Together, Maine Community Bank and the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation contributed over $335,000 to several local non-profit organizations in 2022 and continues to support the local community through donations, volunteerism and in-kind donations each year.

About Maine Community Bank

Maine Community Bank began as a collaboration between two of the longest-standing community banks in Central and Southern Maine, Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings. Maine Community Bank supports both personal and business customers throughout Central and Southern Maine with competitive services, financial assistance, and the friendly, local experience that is at the core of everything they do. They have branches in Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Scarborough, Waterboro, Westbrook and Windham.

About the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation

The mission of the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation is to help individuals and families in the bank’s local communities meet their basic needs and achieve financial empowerment. In support of this long-term mission, the Foundation concentrates on the goals of providing support to families and individuals in our communities through health, housing, and hunger, as well as helping the next generation overcome issues of inequality and build unity across lines of differences in our communities. The Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation was created in July of 2020 and is structured to give back to the communities in a larger, more enduring way.