Catholic Charities Maine is the state's primary Catholic human services organization, working statewide from its Portland base on refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, emergency food and housing, family support, and elder care. This page explains what the agency does, how to donate or volunteer, and how to reach its services if you need them.
Portland has become a significant resettlement destination. Its relative affordability compared to Boston, combined with welcoming state policy, has drawn refugees and asylum seekers from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iraq, and more recently from Central America and South Asia. Catholic Charities Maine handles the legal and social integration work for newly arrived families: the paperwork, the school enrollments, the housing searches that decide whether a family gets a stable start.
The agency's immigration legal services program carries a caseload unlike anything else in northern New England. Maine's asylum seeker community has been a political flashpoint, and the state has at times strained to house and support new arrivals; Catholic Charities is one of the organizations doing the practical service and legal work through those pressures. Beyond immigration, the agency runs emergency food and housing programs, family support, and elder care, all open to people of any faith. The elder care work rarely makes headlines, yet it carries a meaningful share of the statewide caseload.
Donations go through ccmaine.org/donate. Cash gifts stretch furthest for an agency running this many programs, because staff can direct funds wherever the current gap is: legal casework one month, emergency food the next. Monthly pledges help for the same reason, since resettlement and food programs run year-round, and employer matching, where offered, doubles a gift with a single form.
Thinking about donating goods instead? Ask first. What newly arrived families need changes constantly, and the official site or a quick call will tell you what's actually useful right now.
For services, the official site at ccmaine.org is the starting point for food and housing assistance, immigration legal intake, family support, and elder care. You do not need to be Catholic; services are available to people of all faiths.
Volunteer needs vary by program and season, so check the site for current openings rather than assuming a role exists. Agencies like this one commonly need help with food programs, transportation, and support for elder care and resettlement work, and staff can point you to what fits your schedule.
Before you give, confirm the organization's 501(c)(3) status through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and scan its profile on Charity Navigator. Hang on to written receipts for any gift of $250 or more.
Sources: Catholic Charities Maine official site (ccmaine.org); our Maine charity guide research. Retrieved July 2026. We are not affiliated with Catholic Charities Maine and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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