The Portland Cheat Sheet
Everything Free 7 Days a Week in Greater Portland, Maine
More Free Stuff
My hodgepodge page of low & no-cost resources.
If you know a free resource, share it.
Fall Farmers' Markets
Sunday
Scarborough, 9 am-1 pm (Oct 30)
Lewiston, 9:30 am-1 pm (Nov)
Gray, 10 am-1 pm (Oct 2)
South Portland, 10 am-2 pm (Oct)
Tuesday
Brunswick, 8 am-1 pm (Nov 22)
N. Yarmouth Artisans, 4:30-7:30 pm
(Sept)
Wednesday
Portland, 7 am-1 pm (Nov 23)
Falmouth, 10 am-1 pm (Oct 26)
Gorham, 2-6 pm (Oct 26)
Thursday
Yarmouth, 3-6 pm (Oct 27)
Friday
Brunswick, 8 am-1 pm (Nov 22)
Freeport, 9 am-1 pm (mid Oct)
Harrison, 2-5 pm (Sept)
Saturday
Portland, 7 am-1 pm (Nov 23)
Bridgton, 8 am-12 pm (Oct 29)
Saco, 8 am-12 pm (Oct 29)
Sanford, 8 am-12 pm (Oct 31)
Kennebunk, 8 am-1 pm (Nov 19)
Bath, 8:30 am-12 pm (Oct 29)
Kennebunk Artisans, 9 am-2 pm (Oct 1)
Brunswick, 8:30 am-12:30 pm (Oct 29)
Gorham, 8:30 am-12:30 pm (Oct 29)
Windham, 8:30 am-12:30 pm (Oct 1)
Standish/Steep Falls, 9 am-2 pm (Oct)
Cumberland, 10 am-1 pm (Oct 29)
The Helpful List
Got a great resource? Share it
All Covid-19 Testing Sites in Maine
Free Public Wifi, Monument Square, Portland
All Apartments for Rent in Greater Portland
Critical Repairs for Low Income Homeowners
Free Rental of Electricity Usage Monitor
Free/Low Cost Storm Window Inserts
Free Parking in Portland every day after 6 pm,
Sundays & major holidays
Greater Portland Metro Bus Map & Schedule
GoMaine Carpool/Rideshare Program
Old Orchard/Saco Seasonal Trolley ($2)
Greater Portland's Food Pantries & Meals
Every Food Pantry Statewide by Town
Free Monthly Food Box for Ages 60+
Portland Kids/Teens Summer Meals Program
Summer Meal Finder for Kids Statewide
Maine.gov Child Care Subsidy Program
Maine Needs- Free Clothing/Supplies
Mission of Hope Clothes Closet- Free Clothing
Free Clothing/Supplies for Low Income
Windham Clothes Closet- Free Clothing
Furniture Friends for Low Income
Free Cell Phones & Low Cost Land Lines
Federal $30 Internet Discount for Low Income
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline- Call 988
Pandemic Stress Management Resources
Maine Mental Illness Resources
Every AA Meeting in Maine Today
Portland Recovery Community Center
Maine Veterans' Resource Guide
Free Respite Relief for Veteran Caregivers
Military & Veterans Free State Park Passes
Free & Low Cost Legal Services
Hour Exchange Portland (bartering group)
Dept. of Labor Job & Training Assistance
Maine Unclaimed Property Search
Additional Low Income Pet Resources
Fish & Bone Adopted Pet Supplies Bundle
Free Historical Sites
Free Museums within 50 miles of Portland
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Most public libraries have free or reduced museum & park passes- ask.
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Androscoggin Historical Society Museum, Lewiston
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Biddeford Mills Museum, Biddeford
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Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick
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Brick Store Museum (free on Tuesdays for all; free always for military & veterans), Kennebunk
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Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum, Brunswick
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First Amendment Museum, Augusta
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Holocaust & Human Rights Center, Augusta
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Maine Irish Heritage Center, (Thursdays 10 am-2 pm), Portland
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Maine Jewish Museum, Portland
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Maine Military Museum, South Portland
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Maine Museum of Photographic Arts, Portland
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Osher Map Library, USM, Portland
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Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, Brunswick
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Pejepscot History Center, Brunswick
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Portland Museum of Art (free Fridays 4-8 pm; free always to under 21 & EBT/SNAP; free May-Sept for military & family), Portland
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Portland Public Library's Lewis Gallery, Portland
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Saco Museum (free Fridays 4-8 pm), Saco
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Scribners Mill & Homestead, Harrison
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Skyline Farm & Carriage Museum, North Yarmouth
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Umbrella Cover Museum, Peaks Island
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Union of Maine Visual Artists Gallery, Portland
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University of New England's Art Galleries, Portland & Biddeford
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Vaughan Woods & Historic Homestead, Hallowell
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Wilson Museum Campus, Castine
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Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, Freeport
Free Museums Statewide
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Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville
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Davistown Museum, Liberty
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Deer Isle Granite Museum, Stonington
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Dorr Museum of Natural History, Bar Harbor
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Maine's Paper & Heritage Museum, Livermore Falls
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Maine Ski & Snowboard Museum, Carrabassett Valley
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Page Farm and Home Museum, Orono
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Thompson Ice House Harvesting Museum, South Bristol
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Tides Institute & Museum of Art, Eastport
Free Walking Tours
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Guided Tours of Evergreen Cemetery (June-Oct every Saturday & Sunday)
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Viles Arboretum, Augusta
Roadside Attractions
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Berlin Wall Slabs, Old Port, Portland
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Blowing Cave, Kennebunkport
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Captain Brown, Giant Old Salt Fisherman, Boothbay Harbor
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Eartha, World's Largest Rotating Globe, Yarmouth
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Giant L.L. Bean Boot, Freeport
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Jockey Cap Rock Robert Peary Monument, Fryeburg
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Lenny The Chocolate Moose, Scarborough
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World Traveler Signpost, Lynchville
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World Traveler Signpost, South China
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World's Largest Telephone, Bryant Pond
State Civics
Civics: The study of the rights and duties of citizenship
VOTE NOVEMBER 8, 2022
Voter Info Based on Your Address
Local Voting Info in 9 Languages
Find Your Maine State Legislator
Maine U.S. Senators & Representatives
U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights
Election Deadlines from RocktheVote.org
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Maine does not offer online voter registration
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If you're registering by mail, your voter registration must be received by October 18, 2022
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If you're registering in person, your voter registration must be received by November 8, 2022
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Early voting runs October 11 to November 7, 2022
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If you're returning your completed absentee ballot application- by mail, by hand, or online- it must be received by 5 pm, November 3, 2022
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If you're returning your completed ballot- by mail or by hand- it must be received by 8 pm, November 8, 2022
Keep Trying to Understand Each Other
"How to Talk to People Who Disagree With You Politically," by Univ. of Texas
"How to Talk to Someone with Differing Political Views: 6 Tips," by T. Bennett
"How to Talk to Others With Different Points of View," by Univ. of Colorado
"10 Tips for Talking to People You Can't Agree With," by S. Whitbourne
"12 Tips to Find Common Ground With People Who Disagree With You," by C. Butler
The DNA of any two people on earth is 99.6% identical; we have far more in common than we think.
Volunteer Locally
Volunteering your unique talents in the community makes the world more vibrant for everyone. There are so many options to get involved- help your town do things better, lend your skills to a nonprofit, assist a neighbor, a stranger, or take action on an issue you're passionate about. Your contribution matters, however large or small.
American Red Cross: Volunteer or
VolunteerMatch.org Greater Portland
Maine Disaster & Emergency Volunteers
Maine Veteran Volunteer Opportunities
Free Career & Continuing Ed
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Greater Portland Police Explorers Program for ages 15-21
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Media Workshops & Equipment (free for low income & immigrants)
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USM Tuition Waiver for ages 65+
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Various Academic Classes (OOB/Saco)
Free Tech Help at Local Libraries
The Great Free Outdoors
Enjoy my Cheat Sheets of every free outdoor space in five towns.
More Free Parks & Recreation
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All Maine State Parks- free for residents under age 5 & over 65
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Free State Parks & Museum Pass for ME Military/Veterans
Find a Free Trail to Hike
Free Spots for Kids & Teens
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3 Level Playscape & Indoor Turf, The Point, South Portland
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4-H Club (in every county)
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Portland ($5 year/free for low income)
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My Place Teen Centers (ages 10-18), Westbrook & Saco