The mission of The York County Cares Fund is to help refugees and asylum seekers in Saco, Maine and surrounding York County find acceptance and integration into their new country so that they can experience happiness and fulfillment in their lives.
The refugee and asylum seeker community in Saco has centered around a Saco hotel. Approximately 100 families, including over 100 children, resided temporarily at the hotel over the last 3 years. There are 20 families living in this hotel now while agencies help them relocate to rental homes throughout the state. The hotel will close for refugees at the end of September, 2025.
Since 2022, basic services for hotel residents have been provided by Catholic Charities of Maine, the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition (MIRC), Youth Full Maine, and Biddeford Adult Education.
The York County Cares Fund has awarded grants to 15 additional agencies to date! Check out the various grant winners on this site.
Although the hotel is closing, services for refugees are still needed. If you are a 501c3 nonprofit organization or have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, a government department or school, and would like to help people in this community, please apply for a grant from the York County Cares Fund.
Grants of up to $5,000 are made available to entities providing services to this population, either to support existing efforts or to develop new offerings.
The 2025 - Spring Grants Program awarded grants to three organizations. Read here for more information about The 2025 - Spring Grants Program Winners!
The 2025 - Fall Grants Program is open now. Applications will be accepted through October 15, 2025. Download a grant application (below) and send to admin@yorkcountycares.org.
If you're unable to fill out the application for any reason, please contact us for alternate arrangements.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admin@yorkcountycares.org.
We work with the Maine Community Foundation to administer grant funds. If we approve your grant application, a grant recommendation will be made to the Maine Community Foundation through its donor advised fund known as the York County Cares Fund. If the grant recommendation is approved by the Maine Community Foundation, it will issue the grant award directly to your organization. The Maine Community Foundation is not responsible for this website, or any application processes associated with this website.
Thank you.
PO Box 1812, 225 Main St, Saco, Maine 04072, United States