Kindness Organizations in Maine
Bertha Crosley Ball Center for Compassion
The Bertha Crosley Ball Center for Compassion offers research-based educational and experiential programs to calm minds, open hearts, deepen relationships, and strengthen communities.
The Center is the first of its kind in any regional comprehensive university in the United States, drawing its mission from the diverse, vibrant, progressive, working-class community of Maine.
The trainings offered are similar to those developed at the Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research (CCARE), Emory University, and the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin. The Center also hosts public talks and workshops by nationally-recognized speakers in the field of Compassion Studies and Social Justice.
Every year the citizens of Bath come together to give and receive acts of kindness. Taken from the idea of random acts of kindness, the day is full of unique kindness activities, live music, crafts, and many unexpected moments to make you smile. It is loved by all and is a life changing experience. Let your creativity and kindness shine, join us on the sidewalks of downtown Bath every August. Find Kindness Day Bath on Facebook.
"MAINE NEEDS is a grassroots organization, powered by a growing collective of volunteers. We know how resilient people are, but not all of life should be about overcoming adversity. We aim to meet people on the hill they climb and ease stressors by rallying the heart of the community to provide basic needs.
We strive to help individuals and families in Maine meet their basic, material needs by providing donated clothing, hygiene products, household items, and other necessities in an environment of dignity and compassion. We focus our work on those starting life over from scratch: domestic abuse survivors, asylum seekers and those facing financial hardships. We partner with schools, caseworkers, nurses and nonprofits to provide these material resources and are working on establishing a free community closet for those in need to shop directly." Check out Maine Needs on Facebook.
Anyone is welcome to join Love Signs on many weekends for an hour at Portland's Congress Street for dancing, holding Love Signs for passersby, and dwelling in joyful presence. Plenty of Signs are available to share.
Hundreds of nonprofits list ways to get involved in Southern Maine each week. Search the VolunteerME Southern Maine website offered in partnership with United Ways of Maine to find out how to volunteer in your community.
The Rockland Library held an event on June 13 for participants to hold up kindness signs and share joy with those passing by.
During the week before the event, people could come in during the Library’s regular open hours to create a positive and affirmative (non-political and religious, please) sign. Supplies (poster board and markers) were provided.