Riverton Mutual Aid

A grassroots, volunteer-led network of neighbors building community resilience through solidarity, not charity.

Resources

A working list of resources our neighbors have used. Most are in Greater Portland or statewide Maine; a few cover Massachusetts (for people detained out of state). If you find a phone number that's changed or a link that's broken, let us know.

General

  • 211 Maine — referral line — Call 211 or text 898211 (English). Interpretation available by phone. Suggests general resources for a need ("where do I get a case manager?").
  • MaineNeeds — maineneeds.org. Diapers, clothing, toys, cleaning supplies, housewares, toiletries, pads/tampons, baby supplies. English and Spanish.
  • Better Together Cumberland County — Facebook group. Informal community asks (cash help, resource ideas).
  • Maine DHHS — Office for Family Independence — (855) 797-4357 · maine.gov/dhhs/ofi. Families with US-born children are often eligible for benefits; even if you already get one (like EBT), ask about TANF, WIC, Medicaid, Disability, Behavioral Health, child care. Portland office: 151 Jetport Blvd, South Portland. Interpretation by phone and in person.
  • Maine Equal Justice Partners — maineequaljustice.org. How-to guides for food, MaineCare, housing, utilities.
  • Maine Solidarity Fund — mainesolidarity.org. Legal support, emergency family support (groceries, eviction prevention), healthcare access.

Food

  • Locker Project — (207) 899-9540.
  • Food For All — (207) 900-9597 · foodforallservices@gmail.com. Halal-friendly. 72 Parris St, Portland. Open Tues–Sat, 11am–6pm.
  • Presente! — (207) 800-7453.
  • Root Cellar — (207) 774-3197. Washington Ave.
  • Formula — can be prescribed through WIC.
  • EBT / SNAP (through DHHS) — anyone in a household with SNAP/EBT can order groceries to their home from Walmart, Target, etc. using their benefit. Interpretation by phone and in person.

Health and medical

  • MaineHealth interpreter line — (888) 879-1120. Call to connect immediately with a translator.
  • Greater Portland Health — (207) 874-2141. Primary care and dental services; accepting new patients. Interpretation available.
  • Med-Peds clinic at Maine Medical Center — (207) 662-2911. Primary care for kids and adults. Some providers speak Spanish or Portuguese.
  • MaineHealth specialty pharmacy — prescription delivery available.
  • Access Care Line — MaineHealth — (207) 661-5500. Connect to the New Mainer program, case management, primary care. Interpreter services available.
  • MaineCare (Medicaid) — all children living in Maine are eligible.

If a family member is detained

  • ICE Detainee Locator — locator.ice.gov. Note: major delays are common.
  • ICE detention facility directory — ice.gov/detention-facilities. Contact info for specific facilities; may help with commissary and phone calls.
  • ILAP Detention Resources — (207) 780-1593 · ilapmaine.org/detention. Online intake form / voicemail; list of resources for detainees and their families. Interpretation available.
  • MIRC Detention Resources — maineimmigrantrights.org/mirc-resource-hub. Financial help for bail, etc.
  • Maine Solidarity Fund — mainesolidarity.org. Online intake; spots open daily — check every morning. Legal support, emergency family support.
  • Community Relief Maine — communityrelief.me/i-need-support. Financial help, bail support, rapid response. Spanish.
  • Mainers for Humane Immigration — mainersforhumaneimmigration.org/gethelp. Bail, commissary, letters to detainees, referrals. Spanish, Portuguese, French, Creole.
  • BIJAN (Massachusetts) — (617) 396-7143 · beyondbondboston.org/getsupport. For detainees in MA only: legal referrals, commissary, bail.
  • PAIR Project (Massachusetts) — (617) 742-9296 · pairproject.org/gethelp. Free legal help for people detained in MA.
  • Greater Boston Legal Services — (617) 371-1234 · gbls.org/get-legal-help. Free legal help; call for intake 9:30am–12:30pm. Multilingual intakes.
  • Maine Direct Action Solidarity Fund — intake form. Funds for people detained as a result of protest.
  • Detention Self-Help Resources (FIRRP) — firrp.org/resources/prose. For people who can't find a lawyer and want to try to represent themselves.

Rent and utilities

  • Project Home — (207) 274-1063 · qualityhousingcoalition.org/project-home · lucas@projecthomemaine.org, loliana@projecthomemaine.org. Housing support, mediating with landlords, coordinating funds to pay rent.
  • Portland Public Schools — eviction support — if a family has received an eviction notice, PPS has emergency funds. Contact the school social worker immediately before soliciting other funds.
  • Doctor's office or school social worker — can often write letters to keep utilities from being shut off.
  • Presente! — rent and utility support. Spanish.
  • Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) — main1.org.
  • Call the utility company directly — ask for financial assistance and a payment plan. If CMP, ask about LIFELINE. Find out the disconnect date. Call multiple times — different reps will give you different answers.
  • LIHEAP — Low-Income Home Energy Assistance — (207) 553-5900 · opportunityalliance.org/heap. Utility support for households on DHHS benefits. The application is paperwork-heavy; Opportunity Alliance helps. Interpretation available.
  • Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) — (207) 553-5900 · opportunityalliance.org/ecip. Emergency fuel assistance for people who already qualify for LIHEAP. Interpretation available.
  • CMP Arrearage Management Program — help with your CMP bill. For households owing more than $500 over 90+ days. Each payment toward the balance earns a credit against the rest. Opportunity Alliance can help with the application.

Case management

Most case-management programs require insurance — these don't:

  • MaineHealth Access Line — (207) 661-5500. No insurance required.
  • Presente! — no insurance required.
  • Gateway Services.
  • Opportunity Alliance.
  • Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) — main1.org.