NSB Donates $10,000 to Community Concepts

SOUTH PARIS—The list of resources offered by Community Concepts is astounding, but its size is still towered over by the number of western Maine people served by the organization each year.

Community Concepts is a community action agency that has supported residents in Androscoggin, Oxford, and Franklin counties with a dynamic range of services and programming that have helped strengthen area families since 1965. The organization also fosters economic development in Maine through its wholly owned subsidiary Community Concepts Finance Corporation (CCFC), which provides financial coaching, education, and assistance to help people and businesses realize their goals.

This month, NSB made a $10,000 donation to the organization and has contributed over $100,000 to Community Concepts in the last seven years.

“One of the many impressive things Community Concepts does is not only connect individuals and families with services to meet basic needs but also works to correct the root causes of poverty through business, housing, and personal finance education and support,” said Dan Walsh, President and CEO of Norway Savings Bank.

The mission has evolved over the years but has remained centered on bettering the lives of those in the most challenging of situations. Community Concepts staff members and volunteers collaborate closely with people in need and partner with organizations in the community to meet both short-term and long-term needs.

In encouraging that collaboration and growing from it, the work is successful and their efforts to solve systemic problems can be addressed, building stronger communities in the process.

NSB’s partnership with Community Concepts doesn’t end with financial support. The contributions extend to team members who offer their time and talent to help the cause through volunteer shifts as well as conducting workshops that cover financial literacy, guidance for first-time homebuyers, and mortgage advice. Others assist low-to-moderate income families with free tax preparation, and a number have served on committees and even held leadership positions.

“We are so thankful for Norway Savings Bank’s contributions to Community Concepts. They support our mission to strengthen individuals, families, and communities in western Maine by providing diverse programs, engaging in strategic partnerships, and through advocacy that addresses the barriers to promote economic opportunities for all,” said Ruby Bean, Vice President of Advancement for Community Concepts. “Every person who supports Community Concepts is changing lives for the better and further affirms the importance of fighting for the wellbeing of all people.”

There are so many ways to assist Community Concepts in its mission. To learn more about donating your time or resources in support of their efforts, visit www.ccimaine.org/get-involved.

For more information, you can call the organization’s offices in South Paris (17 Market Square) at 207-743-7716, Lewiston (240 Bates Street) at (207) 795-4065, or Rumford (150 Congress Street) at 207-364-3549. The offices are open for visits Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.