AUGUSTA — Kennebec Savings Bank recently named the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, the Mitchell Institute, and the Augusta Teen Center as the recipients of its Catalyst Grants. The three $30,000 gifts are designed to support creative concepts that might otherwise not be possible for the nonprofit organizations.

Waterville Area Soup Kitchen

WASK serves low-income people of all ages who are seeking nutritious food, clothing, supplies and a warm place to find support in a non-judgmental environment. They serve hot, sit-down meals five days a week from The Lighthouse, their facility located in downtown Waterville. Since opening in May 2022, WASK has seen a 600% increase in meal preparations. Catalyst Grant funds will be used to expand their kitchen facility so they can better meet the increasing need.

Mitchell Institute

The mission of the Mitchell Institute is to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue and achieve a college education. The institute is headquartered in Portland, and a strong contingency of Mitchell Scholars attend school in Kennebec Savings Bank’s service area. Recently, the institute has seen an increase in the number of Mitchell Scholars who self-report they are coping with mental health issues. Catalyst Grant funds will be used to create a new program to help connect Mitchell Scholars with effective mental health counseling in a timely way.

Augusta Teen Center

The Augusta Teen Center, located on Water Street, serves at-risk, low-income and low-performing teenagers grades 7-12 in the greater Augusta area. With Catalyst Grant funds, they plan to create a community maker’s space to equip their teens with the tools and supplies to complete carpentry projects needed by the ATC and in the broader community. The project is designed to provide additional mentorship, collaboration, and job training opportunities.

The mission of the Catalyst Grant program is to spark creativity and add capacity within local nonprofit organizations, leading to the betterment of the programs and services offered in Kennebec Savings Bank’s service area. Grant recipients are chosen through a competitive application process by an internal selection committee comprised of employees representing different areas of the bank. Since its inception in 2016, the Catalyst Grant program has awarded over $400,000 to over a dozen projects.

For more information, email Amanda Cooley, vice president & marketing and communications officer, at acooley@kennebecsavings.bank.