Mainspring is a collective of nonprofit partners working together to provide comprehensive programs and services. Through centralized intake and assessment, data sharing, case management, and ongoing collaboration, Mainspring offers a model of care that empowers households to navigate the pathway out of poverty.
Get connected to any of the services and programs above by calling 207-439-0246, emailing intake@mainspringcollective.org, or visiting us during our hours.
Partners, Programs, and Services
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Fair Tide
Fair Tide works to reduce homelessness by providing housing and supportive services to individuals and families in the Seacoast. Fair Tide develops, owns, and manages deeply affordable housing; partners with landlords to match clients to rental units in the private market; and provides ongoing, targeted case management support to ensure long-term stability.
At Mainspring, Fair Tide provides housing assistance, short and long-term case management, a flexible emergency needs fund, and our thrift store with low-cost clothing and housewares.
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Mainspring is the administrator of General Assistance for the towns of Kittery, Eliot, and South Berwick. General Assistance is a program available in every municipality which provides financial assistance to help qualified individuals and families meet their basic needs- sometimes referred to as “welfare”.
Contact Melissa Schott to learn more and make an appointment at 207-630-4314 or melissa@mainspringcollective.org
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Fuel & More
Fuel & More is dedicated to helping keep Kittery families warm who don’t qualify for town assistance. Fuel & More provides assistance through MORE to keep people in their homes which may include help with energy audits, with large CMP bills or help for transportation needs such as automobile repairs to keep employment.
Mainspring can also connect individuals and families to the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Mainspring’s Community Fund for utility resources.
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Southern Maine Agency on Aging
For more than 50 years, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) has been a trusted resource for older adults and their caregivers in Cumberland and York counties. From nutrition and wellness to housing, finances, social isolation, and caregiver support, SMAA provides comprehensive services and information to help older Mainers live to their fullest potential. SMAA also offers Medicare counseling on-site at Mainspring, by appointment only.
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Triangle Club
At Mainspring, Triangle Club offers connections to peer-driven recovery support groups, meetings, classes, and resources to support those in recovery. Triangle Club’s mission is to promote the spiritual, physical and mental health of people in recovery from addiction to alcohol, heroin, and other substances, and to provide a safe place for those who acknowledge that staying substance-free is of primary importance.
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Kittery and Marshwood Adult Education
At Mainspring, Kittery and Marshwood Adult Education provides daytime classes and HiSET prep. Whether you’re returning to school, building job skills, learning English, or exploring a new interest, Kittery and Marshwood Adult Education programs provide flexible, supportive options designed with adults in mind.
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Maine Department of Labor CareerCenter
At Mainspring, the Maine CareerCenter representative assists job seekers with a variety of career services, such as resume creation and updating, job searching, interview practice, locating training resources, and more.
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Footprints
Footprints exists to reduce the impact of hunger in the region and also to share resources and support the lives of those who have joined the Footprints community without regard to race, color, creed, sex, gender, or national origin.
At Mainspring, Footprints provides a new market-model food pantry, weekly home grocery deliveries, Phinn’s pet food pantry, community suppers, a free breakfast café, cooking/nutrition classes, culinary job training, prepared meals, a community support fund, and refrigerated lockers for grocery pick-up outside of market hours.
Breakfast Café: Tuesday & Thursday, 7 am-9 am
Community Suppers: Thursdays 4-5 pm for dine-in or take-home
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Mainspring offers short and long-term case management to help households navigate the array of social services offered within, and outside, of Mainspring. In addition to connections to resources, our case managers can also assist with applications for public benefits, budgeting and financial management and property fairness tax credit applications. Mainspring offers walk-in hours for case management, no appointment needed. Please check our monthly calendar for the walk-in hours.
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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program - Provided through York County Community Action, WIC serves pregnant women, infants, and children from birth to age five. The program offers one-on-one health and nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support. WIC also helps parents and foster parents pay for nutritious food and formula if breastfeeding is not an option. Nutrition professionals monitor weight, immunizations, and dietary needs to achieve optimal health.
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Pine Tree Legal Assistance
At Mainspring, Pine Tree Legal provides free civil legal counseling to low-income individuals and families based in Maine, with a focus on housing, family law, public benefits, and protection from abuse. Pine Tree empowers individuals to navigate complex legal systems and protect their rights.
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Volunteers of America Northern New England
At Mainspring, Volunteers of America Northern New England supports veterans and their families across Maine with personalized care and connection to critical resources. Through dedicated programs and strong partnerships with other veteran-serving organizations, they help ensure each veteran receives the services and support tailored to their unique needs.
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York County Community Action
Community Outreach Program - This program provides a dedicated staff member to connect people with programs and services that offer financial assistance, referrals, education, and advocacy during times of crisis or transition.
Learn more about York County Community Action
Step Up Parents
Step Up Parents provides financial assistance to kinship caregivers in New Hampshire and Southern Maine who are raising children of parents with substance use disorder. Step Up Parents can meet each family’s unique need, offering support with the cost of daycare, clothing, baby supplies, legal fees, camp programs, and more.