Local Mutual Aid Organizations in Greater Portland

June 2, 2026

Mutual Aid Networks of Care – A guide to mutual aid organizations in greater Portland, Maine; neighbors helping neighbors.

Reciprocity

hOur Exchange Portland

A time bank where every hour is equal

Over 3,000 members across greater Portland exchangeservices: carpentry, cooking, driving, childcare, tutoring,gardening, and more, without money. One hour of yourtime equals one hour of anyone else’s. Small annual fee covers administration. Attend a free Zoom orientation tojoin.

Maine Tool Library

Borrow tools

Volunteer-run lending library at 224 Anderson Street. $75/year or donate your time. Garden, home repair, andkitchen tools, shared resources for shared community.

Food & Hunger Relief

The Locker Project

Child hunger relief

South Portland nonprofit fighting child hunger throughfood rescue and fresh food distribution. Partners with 40+schools and community sites in greater Portland. Serves 2,500+ families/year with nutritious food, including freshproduce, rescued from local supermarkets. Distributionsat schools and neighborhood sites; check website for public schedule.

Wayside Food Programs

Mobile pantries, community meals, food rescue since 1986

Multiple Portland locations and days. Culturallyappropriate food for New Mainers. Community meals,summer pop-up picnics, healthy snacks for kids. Seewebsite for full schedule.

MaineHealth Food Pantry

Walk-in, no appointment, no documentation required

Set up like a small grocery store. Bus accessible; free parking.

  • 950 Congress Street, Portland
  • Thursdays 10am–3pm.
  • 207-662-8842

Preble Street Food Security Hub

One of Maine’s largest emergency food operations.

Volunteers always welcome.

  • 75 Darling Ave, South Portland
  • 7 days/week, 9am–3pm.
  • preblestreet.org

Grassroots Networks

Direct Community Aid

Port City Mutual Aid

Community-led

Every Sunday, 1–2pm at 213 Oxford Street: a free store open to anyone in need, with direct outreach to unhoused neighbors. Building solidarity alongside immediate support.

Maine People’s Housing Coalition

Mutual aid for unhoused and recently housed neighbors

Funds for water, food, medicine, first aid, clothing, andemergent needs, primarily Portland area.

Legal Rights and Advocacy

Know Your Rights

Maine Equal Justice

Benefits, housing, and healthcare rights

Policy advocacy and direct support for people navigatingSNAP, MaineCare, General Assistance, and TANF.Resources available in Arabic, French, Kinyarwanda,Lingala, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance

Free civil legal services for low-income Mainers since 1967

Statewide, based in Portland. Housing, benefits,domestic violence, immigration. Anti-eviction programsignificantly expanded in recent years.

New Mainers

Solidarity & Sanctuary

Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition

Hotline, housing, food, legal navigation — 24/7

Rapid response hotline for ICE-related emergencies, housing, and legal navigation. Immigration legal clinicsand asylum support. Community Relief Fund for familiesimpacted by ICE or Border Patrol.

Project Relief ME

Black immigrant-led mutual aid

Housing, diapers, groceries, transportation, clothing, andlegal aid for those impacted by ICE and systemicinjustice. Reach through MIRC resource hub.

Portland Free Pantry

Mobile · community-led · take what you need / givewhat you can

Mobile pantry visiting neighborhoods across Portland. Nobarriers to access.

Project FEED Food Pantry

  • 640 Brighton Avenue, Portland.
  • Tuesday–Thursday 1–3pm.207-761-3920

Good Shepherd Food Bank

Maine’s statewide food bank — 500+ partner pantry sites

Use their online food map to find the nearest pantry.SNAP application support available.

Finding More Help

211 Maine

Call or text 2-1-1 any time, 24/7. Free, confidential referralsto food, housing, heat, health, and other services anywherein Maine.

findhelp.org

Search by zip code for food, rent, childcare, utilities, legalaid, and more. Many listings include hours and eligibility.

Presente! Maine

Bilingual food and community support

Culturally rooted food access and community support.

  • Despensa Solidaria pantry
  • Monday–Friday 8am–5pm.
  • presentemaine.org 207-800-7453

Diaper Banks

Diapers & Baby Supplies

KJFS Diaper Bank

Southern Maine’s only National Diaper Bank Networkmember

Run by the Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services at the Jewish Community Alliance. Distributes diapers andwipes directly to nearly 700 families bi-monthly, andthrough 15+ partner agencies across Cumberland andYork counties. Accepts referrals by email; call for pickupdates.

St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center

Essential supplies pantry, diapers distributed on arotating basis

Episcopal Diocese of Maine mission since 2001. Every Tuesday distributes non-food essentials: toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, feminine hygiene, andincontinence products. Infant diapers distributed on a rotating basis alongside children’s books and seasonal clothing.

Crisis Lines

Maine Crisis Line

  • 888-568-1112
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988

National Domestic Violence Hotline

  • 800-799-7233

MIRC Immigrant Hotline

  • 207-544-9989

“The serviceberry does not hoard. It ripens, and the world is fed.”— Robin Wall Kimmerer · Compiled June 2026