LEWISTON — Survivors of the 2023 mass shooting are requesting more financial help they feel they were promised from the city council. 

Eighteen people were killed and 13 injured in Maine’s worst mass shooting, which took place at a bar and at a bowling alley Oct. 25, 2023. 

Earlier this month, several survivors of the shooting told the council that the money that was raised by the community should have gone directly to the survivors and families of the victims. T Maine Community Foundation reportedly said it had $4.7 million of the donated funds went directly to those impacted by the shooting, while about $2 million went to community groups.  

Danielle Parent, the director of the Maine Resiliency Center, said the center has done its best to help people affected by the shooting. She said the center, which was formed in the wake of the shooting to help survivors and families of victims, has given survivors financial support, counseling and connections to resources.  

However, it doesn’t have funds to directly distribute to survivors. 

“I don't have the ability to give somebody a check,” Parent said. “The resiliency center has the ability to cover services, to help navigate services, to provide services.”  

Interest from a large fund of donations will become available to those affected by the shooting in October, she said, and there is a way for those affected to receive some financial help with medical bills before the fund becomes available.

There is also a victim compensation fund, with a $15,000 cap, which is available to anyone who qualifies.  

Survivor Bobbi Nichols told the council that the assistance that the Maine Resiliency Center is providing doesn’t work for everybody. She said she’s still feeling the effects of the shooting, and can no longer work, so assistance with medical bills isn’t the only financial help she needs. 

“I just want to know — what about the people that can’t use what’s being offered?” Nichols said. “And I haven’t gotten any financial help. Did we get gift cards in the beginning? Yes we did, and I’m sure lots of people did. But I haven’t got nothing since.”  

Councilors briefly discussed setting up a memorandum of understanding with the Maine Resiliency Center. Parent said the center needs more ways to connect with people, and the city could help with that. Councilor Susan Longchamps said the city should look at more ways to help survivors like Bobbi, for whom the status quo doesn’t quite work. 

The council tabled the resolve until its next meeting, which is on April 7.