Camden National Bank delivers 2,000 ‘hope kits’ to Maine shelters and communities

Camden National Bank employees have been busy delivering a little extra “hope” to Maine homeless shelters and charitable organizations. In conjunction with its Hope@Home initiative, all of the bank’s 64 locations —including the Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville and Milo branches — hosted a company-wide drive in February to collect urgently needed items for Maine’s homeless. 

Each of the “hope kits” included personal items, toiletries and non-perishable food items that the shelters can provide to people in need. Due to an outpouring of support from employees, customers and businesses throughout the state, Camden National Bank was able to deliver 2,000 kits to help close to 50 shelters and organizations that provide vital assistance to those in need in Maine. 

“We are so thankful for the response we had to our collection efforts,” said Greg Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Bank. “No matter where I traveled or the communities I visited, there were stories about businesses and individuals who went out of their way to bring items into our banking centers or donate funds to help with purchasing additional supplies for them. It was truly overwhelming, and it speaks to the generosity of the people in our state and their willingness to help their fellow neighbors.”

In coordination with its Hope@Home initiative, Camden National Bank created the Hope Kit collection drive as another means to raise awareness around the issue of homelessness in Maine and provide assistance to the state’s homeless population and the shelters and organizations that support them. Camden National Bank worked with these organizations to identify some of the most urgently needed items for individuals and families, both sheltered and unsheltered, in area communities. Items included toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and deodorant; personal items and necessities such as hand and foot warmers, bandages, antibacterial wipes, socks and winter hats, scarves and gloves; and non-perishable, high protein food items like energy bars, trail mix, peanut butter, instant soups and cereals and beef jerky.

Through the community-based, statewide Hope@Home program, Camden National Bank donates $100 for every new home it finances to a local homeless shelter in the homeowner’s name. In 2015, the bank raised over $44,000 for Maine’s homeless shelters.

“As a community bank, we are dedicated to working with local shelters and other charitable organizations that provide vital assistance to those in need,” added Dufour. “We are pleased with the response we’ve had to Hope@Home this past year and to our recent collection efforts, and we plan to continue to look for opportunities to increase this awareness and offer help wherever we can.”