An area social service hub that already offers a range of services to Eliot and Kittery will now be distributing town General Assistance funds in South Berwick and more generally supporting residents struggling to make ends meet. Local residents facing skyrocketing housing costs as well as rising food and gas prices will find more options for support now that Mainspring is delivering General Assistance for the town, with a caseworker helping people who may need a variety of services. Mainspring, based in Kittery, is also the only bidder on 9 Railroad Ave. in South Berwick, a property the Town is offering for sale for affordable housing, according to Jennifer Janelle, interim town manager, who said the project is on the to do list of new Town Planner Jeff Brubaker. The organization hasn't heard from the Town whether Mainspring's proposal has been accepted, according to Emily Flinkstrom, co-director of Mainspring. Mainspring proposed a mixed-use development of affordable residences, a food market, and offices for other services for area residents, Flinkstrom said. “I envision a kind of mini Mainspring,” Flinkstrom said, noting that realizing this plan is years down the road and depends on raising funds to buy the property and cover environmental cleanup and construction costs. The Mainspring collective, which opened its doors as a social service hub in early 2025, houses organizations that address food, housing, aging, veterans' needs, legal aid, education, employment, substance abuse recovery, and health, according to its website. For now, South Berwick residents will be assigned …