Pay it Forward Maine

Support Local Businesses, Organizations, and People with the Pay It Forward Maine Initiative

Pay It Forward Maine was started by the Portland Regional Chamber and its partners as a collaborative community initiative and website containing an ever-growing library of ideas, tools, and resources for Mainers to support businesses, organizations, and each other - and themselves - during this pandemic. Scroll down for ideas on how YOU can #payitforwardmaine!

Let's Be Kind Campaign Launches

In the spirit of Pay It Forward Maine, the Portland Regional Chamber has partnered with the Retail Association of Maine and Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association to launch a "Let's Be Kind" public awareness campaign around “doing business differently.”

Learn more - and access a toolkit to help spread the word - HERE

Listen to our Pay It Forward PSA:

Read our latest press release HERE

Chamber Family & Friends for Pay It Forward Maine:

*Music credit* Artist: Josh Woodward / Song: LittleTomcat

Senator Angus King says Pay It Forward Maine!

Governor Mills Pays It Forward Through Maine Helps

Governor Janet Mills also added Pay It Forward Maine to her Maine Helps COVID-19 Response Page, calling it "a new statewide effort to assist businesses affected by COVID-19 through a variety of important means."

IDEAS FOR HOW TO GET INVOLVED!*
*This is by no means an exhaustive list. Please share YOUR ideas for how to #PayItForwardMaine with the Chamber directly or in your #payitforwardmaine social posts, and we will add them to this list. We are stronger together!

Pay It Forward Highlight!

During the month of May, Casco Bay Ford exemplified #payitforwardmaine by donating $100 for every car sold to The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center!

This resulted in over $15,000 being donated, and we couldn't be prouder of Casco Bay Ford and everyone whose purchases helped contribute to this worthy effort.

Ways to Support Small Businesses

Buy a gift card, gift certificate, class pass, etc. (to use yourself at a later date or give as a gift!). The following websites are maintaining ongoing lists of businesses with gift card options:

Down East Magazine's Help ME Help You
Portland Radio Group's We Are Maine Strong
WMTW Channel 8's Keep Maine Strong
Don't forget about Bangor Savings Bank's "Buoy Local" gift cards!
Maine Businesses: Add your business to the above websites! PLUS: Facebook is offering a user-friendly gift card creation tool that you can connect directly to Square or or Kabbage. Check it out HERE.

Utilize take-out, curbside to-go, and delivery services. The following websites are maintaining ongoing lists of restaurants and other food shops offering these services:

Brunswick Downtown Association's Operation Pick-up
Business Update Scarborough
City of South Portland's SoPo To-Go
City of Westbrook
Cooking for Community
Maine Magazine
Portland Food Map
Portland Old Port
Town of Falmouth
Visit Portland
Maine restaurants & food shops: Add your business to the above websites!
NOTE: The State of Maine recently extended to-go to include growlers and cocktails
Click HERE for "Physical Distancing Guidance for Ordering, Pick-up and Delivery for Eating Establishments during COVID-19"

BONUS TIP: Every time you have a drink or meal at home during social distancing, consider tipping a local service industry worker through ServiceIndustry.tips. Otherwise, find your favorite server, etc, on social and ask how you can send them a tip directly. (Service industry workers: Don't forget to add yourself to this website!)

Purchase merchandise, tickets, and other offerings from the websites of businesses who have temporarily closed their brick and mortar locations:

First Pier's Maine Open Online is maintaining an ongoing list of Maine businesses with online stores.
Don't forget about supporting local artists & musicians in this same way! Many have websites and/or social media where you can buy from them directly.
Live Music Venues: While live music venues are unable to open for events, many have merchandise and gift certificates available for purchase on their websites.
Maine businesses: Add your online store to Maine Open Online!

Support Maine agricultural and seafood farmers:

UMaine Cooperative Extension Maine Farm and Seafood Products is maintaining a virtual map and spreadsheet.
Maine Coast Fisherman's Association is maintaining a website as well as "Maine Seafood Connection" and "Maine Seafood Direct" Facebook groups.
Maine farmers and seafood producers: Add your business to UMaine's list/map!

Support independent book stores AND Maine children:

Educate Maine's 2,020 Books Challenge is distributing books to Maine children while also supporting Maine’s independent book stores.
Don't forget to still frequent your favorite independent bookstore! Many are taking orders online or over the phone while offering shipping and safe local delivery to their customers.
Maine-based Learn Around the World is offering free education resources for elementary students at home.

See if your favorite service providers offer virtual options - yoga studios, health and wellness providers, accountants, etc.

The Portland Phoenix is maintaining a list of local (and not-so-local) virtual opportunities.

For example, the following organizations continue to offer mentoring, advice, and resources for businesses and job seekers navigating this unprecedented time:

If you can’t afford to show monetary support, SHARE the website or social media account of your favorite business, organization, or entrepreneur and encourage others to support them (and don't forget the #payitforwardmaine hashtag!).

Ways to Support Those in Need

Volunteer your time and efforts!

Reach out to your favorite nonprofit to see if you can help in any way
Mainers Together is a mutual aid network connecting community volunteers with people in need in their community. Learn more HERE.
Serve A Neighbor is a Midcoast-based organization promoting doing kind deeds in local neighborhoods. Learn more HERE.

Help deliver groceries/medications/products to those in need, including the elderly and immunocompromised.

The City of Portland Office of Elder Affairs have implemented temporary volunteer services for grocery delivery. Contact Linda Weare: lwd [at] portlandmaine [.] gov for more information.
If you are in need of deliveries: Portland-based Hay Runner is offering delivery services for essential items - learn more and request a delivery HERE!

Put together packets for school children or help deliver/hand out meals for those still utilizing the free school breakfast and lunch program (call your local school directly to learn how to get involved).

Full Plates Full Potential is managing an Emergency Fund for School Closures to help schools pay for increased meals, packaging breakfast and lunch meals, transporting the food to eligible sites and more. Donate (or apply) HERE.

Donate to your local nonprofits and relief funds as they continue to provide services for those in need.

The following nonprofits are running COVID-19 relief-related drives and fundraisers:

(Please APPLY for the above funds if you need assistance!)

The Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) has also been maintaining an extensive list of Financial Relief for Nonprofit Businesses and Employees. View that list HERE.

A Hub for Exchanging Resources:

The Greater Portland Resilience Exchange is a platform for exchanging available resources, assets, materials, and human capital to supplement the need of local government, emergency response, health care and other community services. It serves as a hub of information and matchmaking for both public and private stakeholders in the region. For USERS to participate, click HERE and for PROVIDERS, click HERE.

More Ways to Pay It Forward

Provide child-care for those still working (especially those in health care and medical fields) and in need of a helping hand.

MaineHealth is developing a directory of childcare options for team members and their families. Learn more and get involved HERE.
Option for individuals and families who are in need of child care: Child Care Choices is run by the state of Maine and includes all licensed child care providers.

Post a video of yourself sharing a favorite skill or technique.

Portland Food Map has started a Food Goes Virtual list of local restaurants offering video tutorials to their customers and fans.
The Chamber is also looking for webinar presenters - please fill out the presenter proposal form HERE or contact the Chamber directly with any questions.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Help us make this into a statewide movement by sharing your posts, photos, and actions with the hashtag #PayItForwardMaine. Tag your family, friends, and followers and challenge them to do the same. The more visibility, the more people will get involved!

#PayItForwardMaine Toolkit

Full-sized versions of the below graphics (and more!) are available in the Pay It Forward Maine toolkit

Ways to Support Yourself

You know the adage "put on your own oxygen mask first" - and it's true! You will be better able to bring your best self back to your family, friends, job, and to all aspects of your life if you first take care of your own needs. Some ideas:

The basics: Get enough sleep, drink water, and eat healthy food. If you need guidance, many Maine health and wellness professionals are now offering their services via Telehealth.

Get moving and get outside!

Maine Outdoor brands has launched an Adventure Local Maine website for staying close to home and discovering more of Maine this summer!
Go for a hike: Maine Trail Finder is an excellent resource for finding trails that are currently open in the state, as well as tips for maintaining healthy social distance while hiking. Learn more HERE. (And perhaps bring a trash bag for picking up litter while you're out there!)
Find a virtual yoga class: Many local studios are offering online classes - live and prerecorded. Contact your favorite studio to inquire or search on YouTube. The Chamber recently partnered with SeaChange Yoga to provide a gentle yoga flow - watch the replay HERE and stay tuned for future sessions.

Stay connected, not only with your immediate family (besides simply taking up the same space, stay emotionally connected too!) but with family and friends outside of your home. FaceTime, Skype, call, text, email - be together, apart.

Make time for your hobbies and interests: Many of us are so overwhelmed right now that the idea of having ANY time for a hobby sounds foolish. But you can find the time. Instead of scrolling through social media or watching another stressful news update, read a novel or a magazine. Dust off those old watercolors or order an adult coloring book. Even just rewatch favorite movies or start digging into that endless Netflix queue.

Feed yourself culturally, while still supporting Maine museums/galleries, historical societies, and other educational experiences:

NEWSCENTER Maine ran an article on how some of our favorite Maine museums have pivoted to continue bringing culture to the community with doors closed.
Portland Landmarks has issued FREE self-guided walking tours you can follow (while practicing healthy distance).
Portland Press Herald is maintaining a "Maine Street" website with a revolving selection from theaters, museums, libraries, and more.

Don't forget about your mental health! With the world slowing down a bit, now is the perfect time to do less, reduce stress, and work on your personal resiliency. Breathe deep.

Mix good news into your daily consumption: Check out the Chamber's recent Earth Day newsletter featuring local leaders looking on the bright side or RE/MAX Shoreline's ongoing "A Challenge Is A Chance To Do Our Best" blog series.
Download a FREE meditation app like Headspace.
Look into virtual therapy and/or take out a self-improvement e-book or audiobook from your local library using the Cloud Library system.
Watch this recent flyte new media Facebook Live featuring Rich Brooks chatting with his dad, Dr. Robert Brooks, a clinical psychologist and one of today's leading speakers and authors on the subjects of resilience and motivation (below).

Pay It Forward Maine Community Partners

Below is an ever-growing list of partner businesses, organizations, chambers and associations (please contact the Portland Regional Chamber directly if you would like to join the campaign):