![]() ![]() The genius of the plan lies in its simplicity – it is essentially a case for one-stop shopping. The joint enterprise has been dubbed Mainspring, which is defined as “the chief or most powerful motive, agent or cause.” “There is poverty in this community, even if you can’t see it,” Footprints director Megan Shapiro-Ross said recently. By pooling resources, they say, they can better serve neighbors in need. The fact is, although these groups have toiled heroically for a combined 55 years, hunger and the lack of affordable housing still persist as problems in the Seacoast. While both have had a significant impact in the area, organization leaders acknowledge the current system needs an overhaul. Now these two Kittery-based powerhouse non-profit organizations are teaming up to share space under a single roof, and are kicking off a $5.5 million fundraising campaign to get it done. Footprints Food Pantry, Fair Tide teaming up to create Mainspring The group also owns a five-unit house in downtown Kittery to provide shelter for occupants who might not otherwise have a home, and is currently in the process of developing two other residential properties in town. The thrift shop operated by Fair Tide grossed nearly $250,000 in sales last year, with profits channeled toward the costs of operating the organization’s programs and services. Meanwhile, folks down the street and around the corner at Fair Tide are helping five times as many households avoid homelessness as they did in 2018. There are currently more than 270 households in Kittery alone seeking Footprints’ assistance every month. KITTERY, Maine - The number of people seeking the services of Footprints Food Pantry increased by nearly 50% last year, as the agency also doubled the amount of food distributed.
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