THE MAINESTAY SOCIETY
The MaineStay Society was born out of the need for disaster relief following the devastating storms that hit Maine's New Harbor and Pemaquid areas in January 2024.
The MaineStay Society’s mission is to assist in rebuilding and reviving the communities affected by the storms.
Rebuilding and Reviving Communities
The MaineStay Society was born out of the need for disaster relief following the devastating storms that hit Maine's New Harbor and Pemaquid areas on January 10, 2024, and January 13, 2024.
The MaineStay Society’s mission is to assist in rebuilding and reviving the communities affected by the storms. The storms revealed just how fragile the coastal community is and how the working waterfront and the entrepreneurial individuals who run them are truly the mainstay of the community.
The MaineStay Society will raise money to help families, fishermen, and the local community rebuild the brick-and-mortar buildings, docks, floats, and other integral facilities and thereby rebuild and encourage the spirit of the community. The MaineStay Society will provide immediate funding to those who suffered damage and losses for which insurance or other assistance cannot. The IRS has guided that such disaster relief is a charitable activity and can be supplied through tax-exempt charitable organizations; under Publication 3833, the MaineStay Society’s activities fall within the examples of aid to businesses under the section titled How Charitable Organizations HelpVictims within Publication 3833 and those who will benefit from the MaineStay Society’sactivities form a charitable class.
In addition to providing financial assistance to rebuild from storm damage, the MaineStaySociety will financially support community events annually, through programs and sponsorship contributions designed to promote, encourage, educate, and sustain the unique traditions and lifestyle of the coastal Maine communities. While the primary focus of activities will be the Pemaquid peninsula from Damariscotta to the Pemaquid lighthouse, the MaineStay Society will seek to help any area of the working waterfront in the mid-coast region of Maine.
The MaineStay Society will dedicate 70-90% of its time in the first year to this urgent task. The remaining time will be spent sponsoring and promoting community events and programs in furtherance of the primary goals. Relevant to assisting in rebuilding and repairing storm damage, the MaineStay Society will assess identified areas of needed assistance through a process that includes a physical review of the damage, a financial assessment of the actual net loss, economic hardship, plans and budgets to rebuild or the costs already incurred to rebuild, and the MaineStay Society board will discuss and approve final decisions as to whether and in what amount it can provide financial assistance.
After the immediate relief and rebuilding efforts have been addressed, the MaineStay Society will continue to spend 55-70% of its time supporting efforts to rebuild the working waterfront’s infrastructure. Additionally, efforts and support are expected to be dedicated to sponsoring and promoting community events and encouraging young people to seek a vocation involving activities that will continue to keep the working waterfront thriving. These activities will range from mitigating the impacts of climate change, boat building, dock and wharf construction, seafood sales and marketing, lobster fishing, and small business administration.
The MaineStay Society activities are funded by raising money for the general public – through direct donations, by way of an annual lobster bake fundraiser called Rock the Harbor, and via social media posts and other means designed to raise money for and bring attention to the cause. Donors are expected to primarily be individuals, and local organizations where possible, who either live in Maine, have a connection to the area, have an affinity for the lifestyle of coastal living, and recognize the value in promoting and supporting the same. Awareness through social media will be an area where efforts will be explored once the primary focus has been implemented. The MaineStay Society’s goal is to distribute the funds raised to cover as many expenses as possible through in-kind contributions or sponsorships.