LEWISTON, Maine – A Lewiston-area nonprofit says it is redirecting tens of thousands of dollars originally awarded through a recovery fund connected to the October 2023 Lewiston mass shooting, after learning more about the broader controversy surrounding how those funds were distributed.
The organization, The Root Cellar, announced Wednesday that it has transferred $65,521.79, the amount it originally received through the Lewiston–Auburn Broad Recovery Fund administered by the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF), to VictimsFirst, a national network that supports victims of mass casualty crimes. The money will now be made available directly to survivors and families affected by the shooting.
The decision comes amid growing scrutiny of the Maine Community Foundation’s handling of donations made after the October 25, 2023 attack that killed 18 people and injured 13 others at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston.
Nonprofit Says It Followed Guidelines, But Later Learned More
In a public statement, Root Cellar Executive Director Joel Furrow said the organization was invited to apply for funding through the Broad Recovery Fund shortly after the shooting. The program was designed to distribute grants to nonprofit organizations in the Lewiston–Auburn region providing trauma-related services and community support.
Furrow said the organization was transparent from the beginning that it did not directly serve victims or families of the shooting. According to the statement, MaineCF representatives assured the nonprofit that the Broad Recovery Fund was separate from the funds designated specifically for victims and survivors, and that community organizations providing trauma-informed support were eligible to apply.
Ultimately, 29 nonprofit organizations each received identical grants of $65,521.79, according to the statement.
Root Cellar used the funds to launch trauma-healing programs in the community, including training facilitators and hosting weekly trauma support groups for residents affected by the tragedy.
But Furrow said the organization later learned more about how the broader distribution of funds compared with the financial support provided directly to victims and survivors.
Disparity Between Nonprofits and Victims Raises Questions
According to the statement, nonprofit organizations participating in the recovery program received more than double the amount that at least some victims and survivors were awarded, a disparity that has fueled criticism from victims’ advocates and families.
“Those living with grief after a loved one was taken by such violence, and those who survived that night, still need, and will continue to need, meaningful support,” Furrow said in the statement.
The controversy over the Maine Community Foundation’s handling of the Lewiston recovery donations has intensified in recent months, as families, advocates, and lawmakers have questioned how millions of dollars donated by the public were distributed.
Critics have pointed to the decision to allocate nearly $1.9 million in equal grants to nonprofits, many of which were not directly providing services to victims, while some victims and survivors reportedly received smaller payments despite facing ongoing medical costs, trauma treatment, and long-term financial hardship.
Victims’ advocates have argued that the structure of the “Broad Recovery Fund” created confusion among donors who believed their contributions would primarily assist victims and families.
Root Cellar Redirects Funds to Victims
After reflecting on the situation over the past year, Root Cellar leadership said it concluded that additional direct assistance for victims was needed.
The organization noted that donations received since the shooting left the nonprofit with available funds nearly equal to the original MaineCF grant amount, allowing it to redirect that sum toward victims without disrupting its own programs.
The money has now been transferred to VictimsFirst, which operates under a “100 percent in, 100 percent out” model that distributes funds directly to victims without administrative fees.
Under the program, family members of those killed, individuals physically injured, and survivors who were present during the shootings can apply for assistance through VictimsFirst.
Calls Grow for Greater Transparency
The move by Root Cellar is the latest development in an ongoing debate about transparency and accountability in the management of the Lewiston recovery donations.
The Maine Community Foundation has defended its approach, saying it established separate funds, one specifically for victims and another designed to support the broader community recovery.
However, critics argue that the process has lacked clarity and oversight, with victims’ families raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the role nonprofit organizations played in the grant selection process.
As the controversy continues, advocates for victims say the focus should return to the individuals and families still grappling with the long-term consequences of Maine’s deadliest mass shooting.
For Root Cellar leaders, the decision to redirect the funds was framed as a moral one.
“It was clear that these funds should be directed where they are needed most: to those who were harmed and continue to carry the weight of that tragic and violent night,” the organization said.
