Support starts
in Ellsworth.
Food, a place to stay, care, or a little help with the everyday. Find your next step in and around Ellsworth, Maine.
Explore 29 local listingsWhat would help today?
Start with a need. Explore your options.Help around Ellsworth.
29 local listings. Contact the organization before visiting.
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Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
137 Downeast Hwy, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Free food pantry open to anyone, no questions asked. Client-choice grocery-store-style shopping. Come as often as you need. There is never a charge.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon & Fri 9:30am-12:30pm, Wed 9:30am-12:30pm & 4-6:30pm
- Who this helps
- Open to anyone. No ID, proof of income, or residency needed. Shop as often as you need.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Emmaus Homeless Shelter
51 Main St, Ellsworth, ME 04605
25-bed emergency shelter open 24/7, 365 days. Serves single men, women, and families. Also runs a food pantry, clothing closet, and free produce distribution for the community.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Shelter: 24/7. Pantry: Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 9-11am. Clothing: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-2pm
- Who this helps
- Adults 18+ in Hancock County experiencing homelessness. Food pantry and clothing open to anyone.
Confirm details with the organization.
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WHCA - Heating Assistance
248 Bucksport Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Administers LIHEAP fuel assistance, energy crisis intervention, and weatherization for Hancock and Washington counties. Helps pay for heating oil, propane, wood, electricity, and more.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri 8am-4pm (call for appointment)
- Who this helps
- Hancock or Washington County residents within LIHEAP income guidelines. Homeowners and renters eligible.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Community Health and Counseling Services
52 Christian Ridge Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Community mental health center offering counseling, psychiatric services, and substance use treatment. Accepts MaineCare and offers sliding fee scale. No one turned away for inability to pay.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri (call for appointment)
- Who this helps
- Adults and children. Accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and most insurance. Sliding fee scale for uninsured.
Confirm details with the organization.
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SPCA of Hancock County
141 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton, ME 04605
Animal shelter serving Hancock County since 1911. Pet adoptions, surrender services, and a free pet food and supply pantry. No questions asked. Also offers spay/neuter assistance.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Tue-Sat 11am-5pm
- Who this helps
- Pet food pantry open to anyone. No income verification. Spay/neuter assistance for low-income Hancock County residents.
Confirm details with the organization.
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INSPIRE Recovery Community Center
24 Church St, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Free peer support center for mental health and substance use recovery. Recovery coaching, support groups, AA meetings, and resource navigation. Also serves as emergency overnight warming center November-April.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri 9am-4pm. Warming center (seasonal): 5:30pm-7am nightly, Nov-Apr
- Who this helps
- Open to anyone. No referral, insurance, or documentation required.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Families First Community Center
41 North Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Transitional housing program for homeless families with minor children in Hancock and Washington Counties. Provides 12-24 months of supported housing plus life skills training, case management, and childcare.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Wed 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Fri 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
- Who this helps
- Families with at least one minor child who are experiencing homelessness in Hancock or Washington Counties. Contact the manager for referral and intake process.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Ellsworth General Assistance
1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605
City-run safety net program providing emergency assistance with rent, heating fuel, electricity, food, and other basic necessities for Ellsworth residents who have no other resources.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (by appointment)
- Who this helps
- Must be a current Ellsworth resident. Must demonstrate inability to meet basic needs and have exhausted other resources.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Everybody Eats Community Meal
134 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Free weekly community meal served every Monday at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church. Dine in or take a meal home. No questions asked, no ID required, everyone is welcome.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mondays 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Who this helps
- No eligibility requirements. All community members are welcome regardless of income or residency.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Hancock County Habitat for Humanity
218 Downeast Highway, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Builds affordable homes and provides homeownership opportunities for Hancock County families earning 30-80% of area median income. Also operates ReStore thrift shop selling donated building materials and furniture.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- ReStore: Wed 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Thu-Sat 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Homeownership Program: must demonstrate need for adequate housing, earn 30-80% of Area Median Income, contribute 250 hours of sweat equity, and have lived or worked in Hancock County for at least 6 months.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Healthy Acadia Food Programs
77 Beechland Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Coordinates food security programs across Hancock and Washington counties including farm gleaning, farmers market access for low-income families, and the Hancock County Food Security Network. Has distributed over 443,000 pounds of gleaned food.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (office); program hours vary
- Who this helps
- Food programs are open to all residents of Hancock and Washington counties experiencing food insecurity. No income verification or documentation required for gleaned produce distribution. Farmers' market incentive programs may require SNAP/EBT enrollment.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Emmaus Center Food Pantry
51 Main St, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Community food pantry open six days a week. Free produce available Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:30 AM. Operated out of the Emmaus Homeless Shelter but open to anyone in need. You do not need to be a shelter resident.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Who this helps
- Open to anyone experiencing food insecurity in the Ellsworth area. No ID, income verification, or documentation required. You do not need to be a shelter resident to use the food pantry.
Confirm details with the organization.
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AMHC - Ellsworth Outpatient Center
70 Kingsland Crossing, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic providing outpatient mental health and substance use treatment. Individual and group counseling, intensive outpatient program, medication for opioid use disorder, case management, and peer recovery support. Sliding scale fees.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Sliding fee scale based on income. Accepts MaineCare, Medicare, private insurance, military insurance (Tricare), and self-pay. No one is turned away for inability to pay.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Ellsworth Free Medical Clinic
248 State Street #16, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Free primary care clinic for uninsured adults. Treats minor acute and chronic conditions, provides OTC medications, and helps access free prescriptions and hospital care.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Weekly clinic, call for schedule
- Who this helps
- Adults 18+ with no health insurance or high deductibles. Patients seen until they reach Medicare eligibility.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Avec Head Start — Ellsworth
18 Avery Lane, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Head Start and Early Head Start for eligible families. Contact Avec about the program, location and current openings that fit your child.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Schedules vary by program; contact enrollment staff.
- Who this helps
- Program age and eligibility requirements apply. Head Start generally serves ages three and four; Early Head Start serves younger children. Ask staff to screen your family.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Downeast Transportation
P.O. Box 914, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Year-round public bus service in Hancock County. Routes between Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Bangor, and Bucksport. Also operates the seasonal Island Explorer.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Varies by route, check website
- Who this helps
- Open to the general public.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Community Closet 207
330 Water Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Free and low-cost clothing, shoes, bedding, toiletries, diapers, and household items. First 5 items free.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Sun–Tue 11 AM – 3 PM, Wed 2 PM – 6 PM
- Who this helps
- Open to anyone.
Confirm details with the organization.
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The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter
60 Barber Lane, Cherryfield, ME 04622
Animal shelter serving Hancock and Washington counties. Free pet food pantry, low-cost spay/neuter vouchers for income-eligible residents, and emergency vet financial assistance.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Tue–Sat 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Pet food pantry open to all. Spay/neuter vouchers for income-eligible Washington and Hancock County residents.
Confirm details with the organization.
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KidsPeace Maine
16 KidsPeace Way, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Residential and community-based programs for youth and families facing significant challenges. Services include 24/7 supervised residential care, foster care, day treatment, and educational services in Ellsworth, Old Town, and Millinocket.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Administrative: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Residential: 24/7
- Who this helps
- Youth and families referred through DHHS, schools, or other agencies.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Community Closet 207
330 Water St, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Nonprofit thrift store in Ellsworth providing low and no-cost clothing, baby needs, hygiene products, and other necessities to the Hancock County community.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Sun-Tue 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM; Wed 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Open to anyone in the community. Items are available at low cost, and those in need can access items at no cost. No documentation required.
Confirm details with the organization.
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MDI & Ellsworth Housing Authorities
80 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Combined housing authority serving MDI and Ellsworth with public housing and Section 8 vouchers.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Who this helps
- Low-income MDI/Ellsworth residents.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Ellsworth Adult and Community Education
11 Avery Lane, Ellsworth, ME 04605
RSU 24 adult education program providing HiSET prep, high school completion, College Transitions, workforce training, and enrichment classes for the Ellsworth and Downeast area.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Monday - Friday, call for schedule
- Who this helps
- Adults in the Ellsworth and Downeast area. Academic programs are free.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Mano en Mano Migrant Education
4 Maple Street, Milbridge, ME 04658
School navigation, education planning and enrichment for eligible students in mobile agricultural and aquaculture families across Maine.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Contact the program to arrange support.
- Who this helps
- A program coordinator determines eligibility based on the student’s age, qualifying work and moves. Ask for a screening rather than assuming a recent move qualifies.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Rayitos de Sol Childcare
Milbridge, Maine; ask staff for the current childcare entrance
Bilingual Spanish and English childcare and early learning for Downeast families. Ask about subsidies, scholarships and current openings.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Contact the program for current schedules.
- Who this helps
- Downeast families; current age groups, fees and space must be confirmed with staff.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Down East Family YMCA Youth Programs
Ellsworth, Maine; confirm the location for your program
All Hancock County sixth graders can receive a free YMCA membership. Other memberships and youth programs have their own fees and assistance options.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Hours and schedules vary by program.
- Who this helps
- Free sixth-grade membership is for Hancock County students. Ask staff about other membership assistance.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Special Children’s Friends
Ellsworth, Maine; program locations differ
Early intervention and case-management support for children and families in Hancock County.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Contact the program for intake and appointment information.
- Who this helps
- Ask staff which service fits your child, including age, referral and funding requirements.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Hancock County 4-H
Hancock County; activity locations vary
Hands-on projects and youth development for ages 5–18, including science, agriculture, healthy living and community involvement.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Club and activity schedules vary.
- Who this helps
- Youth ages 5–18. Ask about a current club or program that fits your child’s age and interests.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Ellsworth Public Library — Kids & Families
Ellsworth, Maine
Free library events for children and families. Use the current calendar to find dates, age groups and registration details.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Check the current calendar and library hours.
- Who this helps
- Event age groups and registration vary. Ask the library about borrowing requirements.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Families — Hancock County
Home visits in Hancock County
No-charge home visiting for Hancock County residents who are expecting or parenting a baby.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Arrange visits with the local team.
- Who this helps
- Expectant parents and families with a baby in Hancock County. Ask the team about enrollment.
Confirm details with the organization.
These listings include nearby communities. Hours, locations, and eligibility can change. Call to check which service fits your situation.
Make the first step a little easier.
You don’t need all the answers before reaching out.
Start with a call.
Explain what you need and ask whether the program serves your town or household.
Check where to go.
A mailing address may differ from the service location. Confirm the place, hours, and any appointment.
Ask what to bring.
Check which documents are needed. Mention language, mobility, or transportation needs when you call.