When Allen Insurance and Financial was looking for a service project in 2020 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national day of service, they couldn’t have predicted the kind of partnership that would form five years later. Their nonprofit partner, AIO, plays a vital role in the community, assisting over 10% of Knox County residents in Maine. Each week, more than 350 families rely on the AIO food market, while 700 students benefit from the weekend meals program. In 2024, AIO provided 526 energy assistance gifts, easing the burden for households facing difficult choices between food, warmth, and medical care.
Since that first service day in 2020, the Allen team has mobilized volunteers and provided significant sponsorship each year. This initiative has grown exponentially, collecting nearly 2,400 pounds of food and raising $39,000 in donations in 2025 alone — enough to sustain AIO’s essential programs through the harsh winter months.
“We foster a culture of giving back, where employees are motivated to contribute to AIO’s mission or that of a food pantry close to their office. Our team values the work AIO does and looks for meaningful ways to contribute – whether through volunteering, supporting food drives, or helping spread the word about AIO’s impact,” says Jill Lang, marketing director at Allen, who coordinates the team’s work with the event.
“The pandemic created a real turning point for our partnership, where Allen team volunteers stepped up without hesitation to meet an unprecedented need. That challenging experience reinforced our commitment to the event and its continued success.”
A $10,000 Make More Happen Award would provide three weeks’ worth of food for the AIO market, energy payments for approximately 25 households, and support the weekend meal program for students.
By voting for Allen Insurance and Financial, you help ensure that AIO can continue its crucial work in the community, alleviating hunger and energy insecurity for countless families. Join the effort to make a difference — your vote counts!
Last day to vote. Congratulations AIO on over a thousand votes. A great organization vital for the community it serves.
WOW. My vote this morning was for the 1000 mark. Great work everyone for a great organization.
Ann Yahner
AIO, Allen and the Strand- now that is a powerful trio for good in our community!
Thank you, AIO, for all your support!!!
Great cause! Nice work Allen Insurance!
I am proud to work for a company that actively supports a fantastic non-profit organization dedicated to helping our community! Thank you, Allen Insurance & Financial. Thank you, AIO!
I hope everyone votes for AIO. This is very important since federal funding is being cut.
AIO is an invaluable asset to our community. They continue to grow and strive to meet the needs of our neighbors. Thank you to Allen Agency for working closely with AIO to ensure success for us all.
What a great organization! It has been wonderful to watch them grow and wonderful to watch the community make it possible. Kudos!
AIO does wonderful work!
What a great organization AIO is! CONGRATS! Let’s keep it up.
Great cause! Nice work Allen Insurance!
Congrats and what a great organization
What an amazing organization!
AIO is a community treasure!
Doing really great work, helping, supporting, modeling!
A great organization providing an ever growing essential need!
AIO represents everything good, ethical, and impactful community service. Their passion and compassion is evident every day.
A great organization doing great work.
As former Board Chair of AIO I am incredibly proud of what this organization continues to do to meet the needs of the community. Now offering home
grocery delivery, Spanish language resources and the garden projects are underway.
AIO is a welcoming, supportive resource that does so much for so many in our community–a vital part of our local safety net that helps strengthen families!
AIO is an amazing resource serving the needs of the community in so many ways providing comfort and treating all with dignity.
AIO just finished Pies on Parade that brought out community together and raised funds for food and heating. A win for everyone ❤️❤️
AIO is a great community agency that provides many services for a lot of people. I don’t know what we would do without them.
AIO provides so many needed services to our community, thank you AIO!
An organization that recognizes the need for community assistance with dignity!
AIO reflects the heart of this community. Their relentless commitment to service is inspiring. They feed our neighbors with food, warmth, and hope. It is a privilege to work alongside this incredible organization.
With a long history of inter-faith support, AIO brings people together, and truly exemplifies that we’re all in this boat together, ready to help each other.
AIO creates a sense of Community while service the vulnerable of the community.
‼️Nice open house yesterday!
and thank you all for ongoing support to our communities
AIO is a really special place run by amazing people!
Thank you, AIO, for your commitment to helping with food insecurity and other vital needs of the community.
Thank you, AIO, for doing such vital work in our community!
Thanks, appreciate local support !!
AIO is an essential resource for our community! Many thanks to the Allen Agency, Liberty Mutal, and Safeco for recognizing and supporting the critical services AIO provides!
AIO serves a critical need with compassion and respect
AIO provides much needed assistance to our neighbors. Thank you to AIO and to Allen Insurance and Financial!
Thank you Allen Insurance and Financial for your great partnership!
Thank you for all that you do!
Thank you AIO for all you do for the community 🙂
This is such a wonderful organization providing much needed resources for the community!
great fundraiser
Great organization doing some amazing things
Thanks to all for their votes! We can Make More Happen for AIO!
Such a great organization!
I am so happy that Allen Insurance supports this vital community resource!