Hope Squad Maine

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Ocean Park, ME
Hope Squad Maine

A mobile volunteer-driven outreach group providing resources & compassion to Portland, Maine's unhoused community t all started with an old ambulance.

In November 2022, founder, Matt Brown, bought it with a simple idea: a safe, warm place to listen, provide support, and offer resources to Portland, Maine’s unhoused community. What began with hot cocoa and blankets quickly grew as the need became clear. His wife, Nancy, soon joined as a co-founder, bringing her calm, loving presence and helping turn the vision into the volunteer-driven outreach it is today.

09/05/2026

Outreach Report 8/28/2026

This past Friday started overcast at the Homeless Services Center - but it was full of warmth. 🥪 Nancy delivered six bags of sandwiches handmade by our amazing volunteer Lisa, whose ham & cheese has become legendary (“the best I’ve ever had!”). 💙

One gentleman spotted “HOPE” on our shirts and asked if Bob had come along 😄 - then gifted a volunteer a new nickname: “Hope.”

Bingo brought its own magic. 🧸A woman fell for a sloth prize, lost it to another winner… who then traded his prize just to give her the sloth. Pure generosity. 🥹

Then the sun broke through on Cotton Street ☀️ where we served 143 people, running out of all 280 meals, water, milk, coffee, and lemonade. So many reunions, hugs, and reminders of how much every person matters. 🤗

This work holds it all - heartbreak, beauty, connection. If it speaks to you, come join us. 💪

🔗 www.hopesquadmaine.org

09/02/2026

In last week's outreach report, volunteer, Meghan, touched on the topic of waiting. Waiting while homeless means navigating daily survival, waitlists, and administrative delays while trying to secure stable housing.

Recently, one of our shelter friends joyfully let us know that she finally found housing! She waited over 2 years. When we first met her, she was full of hope. She was always first in line to greet us on Fridays and a huge fan of Bingo. As time wore on, she started to lose hope. Isolating herself. While we would always seek her out on Fridays to check in, we couldn't give her what she really needed -- a home. To receive news that her wait was finally over, and her new life beginning, filled our hearts with joy!

Our friends wait for everything…food, a shower, a shelter bed, a caseworker, medical & mental health support, a housing voucher, and housing that accepts a voucher. They spend many months to years trapped in a state of limbo. To make it through requires unimaginable patience and persistence.

Our volunteers try to make the waiting a little easier by connecting, by providing basic needs, sharing a hug, by just being there.

We hope that you will consider supporting our mission by helping us with our top needs for the week. If you do not have the ability to give it this time, that's okay too. Sharing and commenting on this post to help spread the word is another (free) way to help!

TOP NEEDS 9/2/26

1. PEANUT BUTTER CRACKERS: Peanut butter crackers are a favorite snack item! We put these in to-go bags so that our friends have something to eat when they get hungry but have no access to food. With only one meal service a day being consistently provided on the streets of Portland, portable snacks packs have become a critical need. Buy locally or order online via our Amazon wish list, https://a.co/5iFfzTD.

2. SHORTS! (women's 0–10 & men’s 30–36, S, M, L) - Last call for shorts! If you are cleaning out your drawers to make room fall clothes or shopping summer clearance sales, please consider donating shorts to us!

3. BAR SOAP (Individually wrapped only) - Many of our senior friends that stay at the shelter ask us for bar soap. They prefer it to body wash. We hand out 50 to 60 bars of soap a week.

***
🔹Amazon wish list🔹
https://a.co/5iFfzTD

🔹 Updated Seasonal wish list 🔹
https://hopesquadmaine.org/hope-squad-maine-seasonal-wishlist/

👉 Shipping Address
Hope Squad Maine C/o Kristen Archambeault, 362 Hill Street, Biddeford ME 04005.

👉 Donation Drop off:
Church of the Nazarene, 525 Highland Ave, South Portland, back of the building.

👉 Make a financial gift:
https://hopesquadmaine.org/donate/
****

08/27/2026

🚑💛 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Join the Squad! 💛🚑

Hope Squad Maine’s Friday outreach doesn’t just happen. It takes a village all week long to make it possible! We’re looking for a few more hands, whether you want to be out on the street with us or help behind the scenes. 🙌

🤝 Friday Outreach (Portland)
Join us directly on outreach! Two shifts available EVERY FRIDAY:
• 9:00 – 11:00 AM
• 12:15 – 2:15 PM

👕 Clothing Sorters (South Portland - weekdays)
Help sort, label, and prep clothing donations so they’re ready to hand out on the street Friday.

🥫 Food Prep Crew (Portland area - weekdays)
Help pick up, organize, and get food products ready for our Friday morning drop-off.

If any of this sounds like you, we’d love to have you on the team. 💙 Fill out the form below to get started 👇

https://hopesquadmaine.org/get-involved/

08/26/2026

Last week's outreach was incredibly busy! We served 95 individuals at the shelter and 145 on the street. By the end of the day, we had nothing left to give but hugs!

Sadly, there were many new faces of various ages and from different walks of life -- a reminder that life is fragile and unpredictable --one trauma, one medical emergency, one crisis can take everything away in an instant.

Despite an increase in those in need, Friday's outreach offered glimmers of hope! Here are some of the highlights:

🔹 Two recently housed friends dropped by to share that they took a day trip up the coast! It lifts our spirits to receive these updates that reveal a return to joyful living and an exit from the constraints of homelessness.

🔹 A volunteer complimented a friend on his beautiful cross pendant and asked about its origin. He responded that it was a gift from a favorite community partner, Pastor Jeff (Grace-Street Ministry!) The friend thoughtfully offered his pendant to the volunteer. She happily accepted a hug instead.

08/24/2026

Outreach Report – Friday, August 21, 2026 💙

Served: 95 at HSC | 145 at Cotton St 🙏

A week of challenges AND celebrations! 🎉 Susanna rejoined us on the street after being away - welcome back! 🙌 With fewer volunteers, we got creative and focused on essentials: socks, shoes, underwear, and blankets. Our friends were understanding, but it’s a reminder that we need more hands on deck! 🚐

At the Homeless Services Center, it was clothing week which is always a little chaotic, always full of joy 👕👖 A found bag of notebooks became the highlight: one man’s face lit up when he got one 📓✨ When we ran out, a stranger gave up his own notebook so someone else could smile too 🥹💛

We never know exactly what will make someone’s day. Sometimes it’s just a notebook. Sometimes it’s eye contact and a smile that says: We see you. We hear you. You matter. ✨

Want to join our outreach team? We’re looking for volunteers! 👉 Link in bio

08/19/2026

Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.

This week on Wish List Wednesday we borrow words from Jane Goodall, an amazing advocate for all living things. While she may have departed this earth, she leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion and words to live by.

Thank you all for joining us in our mission to spread understanding, compassion and love!

In a world where we are often surrounded by negativity, your kindness and support inspire us to keep sharing hope with our most vulnerable neighbors. We appreciate you all more than words can express!

If you are wondering how to support our unhoused and unsheltered neighbors, we hope that you will consider helping us with our top needs of the week. If you do not have the ability to give it this time, that's okay too. Sharing and commenting on this post to help spread the word is another (free) way to help!

****
TOP NEEDS 8/19/26

1. SOCKS (ankle/no show, men's & women's) - Critical need. Many of our friends on the street suffer from foot infections. Access to clean socks makes a huge difference!

2. TOOTHBRUSHES (Individually wrapped only) - Dental hygiene is important and almost impossible to maintain when you are unhoused especially when you don't have a bathroom or even a toothbrush. Many of our unhoused friends have serious dental issues and something as simple as a toothbrush can help them stay healthy. Buy locally or order online via our Amazon wish list, https://a.co/5iFfzTD .

3. LOLLIPOPS - Our friends both at the shelter and on the street love it when we have lollipops in our treat bucket! Creature comforts are important when you're at the lowest point of your life.

***
🔹Amazon wish list🔹
https://a.co/5iFfzTD

🔹 Updated Seasonal wish list 🔹
https://hopesquadmaine.org/hope-squad-maine-seasonal-wishlist/

👉 Shipping Address
Hope Squad Maine C/o Kristen Archambeault, 362 Hill Street, Biddeford ME 04005.

👉 Donation Drop off:
Church of the Nazarene, 525 Highland Ave, South Portland, back of the building.

👉 Make a financial gift:
https://hopesquadmaine.org/donate/
****

08/14/2026

🌞 Hope Squad Maine Outreach Report - Friday, August 7th

📍 HSC served: 92
📍 Cotton St served: 160
🚗 Clinic rides: 13

Huge thanks to our volunteer outreach team leader Laura for leading the team and putting together last week’s report! 💙

“It was a hot day, and the shelter provided a welcome cooling space for our community members while volunteers set up our weekly spread. We are incredibly grateful for everyone’s hard work and dedication:

🥪 Lisa - provided 89 handmade sandwiches for residents. We deeply appreciate the love and care that goes into making these.
🍪 Debbie - created another wonderful array of baked goods and snacks. She and Jill made sure everyone in line received a great treat.
🧴 Zahira - brought containers of self-care items, which the residents always appreciate.
🙋 Steve - handled double duty, handing out sandwiches and managing the headcount.
🥚 Fran - brought hard-boiled eggs, always a popular and quick source of protein.
☕ Elaine & Zach - steadily served coffee and cocoa until it was all gone.
🎉 Bingo - as always, a big hit that brought lots of laughter and smiles.

Over on Cotton Street, the city set up multiple tents and chairs so our community members could enjoy shade while having lunch and staying hydrated. Volunteers hustled to distribute cold water and drinks, and made sure all the dogs with their owners got water bowls too 🐾. Our inventory of T-shirts and tank tops emptied out quickly.

Everyone worked hard to stay cool, and there was no shortage of smiles and kindness shared between staff and residents. Seeing a community come together like this is exactly what the world needs, and I am so grateful to be part of the Hope Squad family.” 💙

To learn more and support our efforts ➡️ www.hopesquadmaine.org

08/12/2026

Human beings are at their best when they recognize each other as neighbors not strangers. -- Fred Rogers ("Mister Rogers")

At Hope Squad Maine, we believe that the people we serve are our neighbors, not strangers. Through our service, we create friendships and connections that enrich our lives and warm our hearts.

At a recent outreach, one of our friends said: "Your being here makes Fridays the best day of our week!" We feel the same way! Seeing our friends makes Friday our favorite day of the week as well!

If you are wondering how to support our unhoused and unsheltered neighbors, we hope that you will consider helping us with our top needs of the week. If you do not have the ability to give it this time, that's okay too. Sharing and commenting on this post to help spread the word is another (free) way to help!

A little kindness goes a long way to making this world a better place for all of us. Thank you all for being a part of our community of kindness

08/06/2026

💙 Outreach Report | 7/31/26 💙

📍 HSC: 61 served
📍 Cotton Street: 127 served

Another Friday of connection, compassion, and community. 💙

Our friends at HSC shared how much they look forward to Hope Squad’s weekly visits, with one saying, “Your being here makes Fridays the best day of our week.” ❤️

Cotton Street was busy as ever, with long lines, hot meals from Preble Street and Milestone, and the support of amazing partners like Milestone Recovery and volunteers. 🙌

A special thank you to:
✨ South Portland Church of the Nazarene for providing space to store and organize clothing donations
✨ Our incredible volunteers who step up when needed (thank you, Jill!)
✨ Everyone who helps behind the scenes to keep Hope Squad moving

We ran out of nearly everything - food, pastries, water, milk, and iced coffee because the need continues to be great. 💙

Want to support or get involved? Visit hopesquadmaine.org

08/05/2026

We often experience moments of joy while on outreach. One outreach, a friend showed up all smiles with a sign that said, “Homeless not Hopeless.” It made our day! It was incredibly heartwarming to know, in that moment, he was aware of his worth… and equally as important, he had HOPE!

Our mission is to see those that are invisible; to hear those that have no voice, and to reinforce the infinite value and worth of each person we meet.

We fulfill this mission, with your support, by providing a loving, compassionate and consistent presence, needed resources and hope to those living in shelters and on the streets of Maine.

Thank you for helping us to provide hope! We are so grateful to you all! ❤

If you are wondering how to support our unhoused and unsheltered neighbors, we hope that you will consider helping us with our top needs of the week. If you do not have the ability to give it this time, that's okay too. Sharing and commenting on this post to help spread the word is another (free) way to help!

*** TOP NEEDS 8/5/26 ***

1. SHORTS (men's & women’s, all sizes) - All our friends are asking for shorts, and we have none to give. If you're cleaning out your drawers to make room for fall clothes, please consider donating your gently used unwanted shorts to us!

2. LOLLIPOPS - Our friends both at the shelter and on the street love it when we have lollipops in our treat bucket, but we are almost out! Creature comforts are important when you're at the lowest point of your life. Buy locally or order online via our Amazon wish list, https://a.co/5iFfzTD.

3. BUG REPELLENT - We need lots of bug repellent! The ticks and mosquitoes are fierce this year. The diseases carried by both pose serious threat to those living outside.

***
🔹Amazon wish list🔹
https://a.co/5iFfzTD

🔹 Updated Seasonal wish list 🔹
https://hopesquadmaine.org/hope-squad-maine-seasonal-wishlist/

👉 Shipping Address
Hope Squad Maine C/o Kristen Archambeault, 362 Hill Street, Biddeford ME 04005.

👉 Donation Drop off:
Church of the Nazarene, 525 Highland Ave, South Portland, back of the building.

👉 Make a financial gift:
https://hopesquadmaine.org/donate/

****

Address

Ocean Park, ME
04063

Website

http://www.hopesquadmaine.org/

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