LEWISTON — 100+Women Who Care Androscoggin held its fourth fundraising meeting Nov. 4 at Central Maine Community College.

The membership voted to support The Drop In Center with its donations. Those donations, totaling $6,670, were delivered to The Drop In Center on Dec. 2. Because of this donation, the program is also eligible for a 50% matching grant from the Richard M. Schulze Foundation, bringing the total donation to $10,005.

The Drop In Center, on Pleasant Street in Auburn, is a safe, low-barrier setting for people experiencing homelessness and those in need, managed and staffed completely by volunteers, open 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Breakfast and lunch is served both days, and meals are regularly delivered to local encampments.

It is the only facility in Lewiston/Auburn that provides free showers to unhoused people. It also has toiletries, clothing, food and survival gear to distribute, thanks to community donations. On Wednesdays, local service providers assist guests in accessing local services and resources.

Since opening in 2022, the center has recorded more than 10,000 guest visits, with a recent daily attendance high of more than 130 people.

100+ Women Who Care Androscoggin is a collaboration of local women who seek to invest in the community by pooling their donations for the greatest impact. They meet four times a year. Members can nominate organizations or projects that are working to address community needs. At each meeting the membership hears about three of the nominated organizations and then votes for one group to receive their donation. The members then write a check to that organization, and within a few weeks all the checks are delivered directly to the organization chosen.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit the organization’s Facebook page.

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