LEWISTON – A downtown effort designed to advise and help women will get a $5,000 program grant from the Maine Community Foundation charity fund.

The money will help pay for programs at the Center for Women’s Wisdom. The group hosts meetings every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

“We try to do something a little different every time we meet,” said Klara Tammany, acting director of the center. “Some nights we might host a knitting and crocheting night. Or we might have a speaker.”

The center’s board of directors has pledged to fully fund their program’s operation by January 2010.

The center offers hospitality, listening, and personal and spiritual guidance, as well as help in accessing local resources and encouragement toward healthy life choices.

Through support groups, activities and programs, women have the chance to meet and network with others, build friendships and support each other in their daily struggles.

The Maine Community Foundation works with local donors and community groups to strengthen Maine through grants and scholarships.

The group is meeting in borrowed space at the Nutrition Center of Maine, 208 Bates St. Tammany said a water pipe broke in their Bates and Ash street office building on Christmas Day, flooding them out.

“It didn’t really damage stuff, but it made everything damp and smelly,” she said. “The landlord will probably have to do some work, but we hope to be back in a couple of weeks.”