đź“°SACO | $90K Donation | Saco & Biddeford Savings Supports New EmPATH Unit to Improve Behavioral Health Crisis Care in Southern Maine
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By Chelsea Miller, Sr. Communications Manager, Saco and Biddeford Savings
Aug. 14, 2026, Saco & Biddeford Savings is pleased to announce a $90,000 contribution in support of MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland’s new Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) unit, a project designed to improve behavioral health crisis care and help ease pressure on the hospital’s emergency department.
The EmPATH unit, expected to open Monday, August 17, will provide a calmer, safer and more supportive environment for patients experiencing mental and behavioral health crises while they await the next appropriate level of care. Typically, patients will be brought directly to the unit, instead of waiting for care in the emergency department.
“At Saco & Biddeford Savings, our values have always been rooted in caring for people and showing up when our neighbors need us most,” says Mark Jones, President and CEO of Saco & Biddeford Savings. “Supporting the EmPATH unit is a meaningful way for us to live those values. This project will help ensure that individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis are met with compassion, dignity and timely care in an environment designed for safety and healing.”
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland piloted the EmPATH model by converting former classroom space into an emergency department annex. The pilot showed meaningful benefits, including positive patient feedback and a safer environment for emergency health care providers.
The permanent unit builds on that progress with dedicated space, faster access to mental health experts and design features that better support patients in crisis.
Saco & Biddeford Savings’ contribution supported construction of the EmPATH unit and helps ensure patients receive timely care in an appropriate, compassionate setting.
“For nearly 200 years, SBSI has believed in more than banking — we believe in building stronger, more resilient communities,” adds Jones. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to support a resource that reflects compassion, dignity and a commitment to community well-being. We’re honored to stand alongside MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland in bringing this important resource to southern Maine.”
About Saco & Biddeford Savings:
Founded in 1827, Saco & Biddeford Savings is Maine’s oldest bank. For almost 200 years, SBSI has continued to meet the ever-changing needs of the customers and communities it serves. Fulfilling its commitment to mutuality, SBSI, in conjunction with Paquin & Carroll Insurance, has contributed more than $5.3 million to area organizations over the last 10 years. For more information, visit www.sbsavings.bank, Instagram at @SBSavings, Facebook at @sacobiddefordsavings, or visit one of their locations in Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland or Westbrook. Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender
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