West Bay Rotary of Camden has awarded $17,000 in spring grants to 12 non-profit organizations serving the underserved, promoting the rights of those in the margins, advocating for care and appreciation of the environment, promoting physical health and well-being, providing shelter for victims of domestic violence, and advancing literacy and education. The grants follow an intensive three-month process of application, evaluation, discussion, and careful collaboration by the West Bay Rotary Grants Committee.
In presenting the well-deserved grants before a packed breakfast meeting last Thursday, Club President Deb Hitchings noted, “The quality, stature, and number of applications this year was remarkably high, reflecting a heightened interest and intense competition for the West Bay Rotary grants. We all work hard year-round to raise funds for our grants program, and we’re extremely proud to be able to support such a diverse and impactful group of grantees.”
The following organizations received grants from West Bay Rotary:
Area Interfaith Outreach: Supporting a full rollout of its Summer Weekend Meals Program, program to deliver fresh food to homes during the summer break in the school year.
Camden Public Library: To promote literacy by providing free copies of "The Reading Brain in a Digital World" to every teacher, school leader, and reading support staff in the 5 Towns School District.
Lincolnville Community Library: Supporting its Summer Reading Program, "Plant a Seed: Read."
Meals on Wheels (MCH): Delivering warm, at-home meals five days a week to vulnerable individuals in Knox County.
Merryspring Nature Center: Supporting a program that offers more than 1300 young children free environmental education in a 66-acre park with meadows, woods, gardens, and workshops.
Midcoast Recovery Coalition: To support 40-60 individuals annually in need of recovery housing and wrap-around support services.
New Hope Midcoast: To provide emergency housing for victims of domestic abuse in Knox County and Lincolnville.
Pen Bay YMCA-Lily Pond Infant Care: To provide year-round, extended day care for 25 infants and their parents in Knox County.
Trekkers: Supporting 11th grade students who otherwise couldn’t afford to be enrolled in its supportive deliberately-structured mentoring program, Aspirations.
Waldo County Woodshed: From its Warren location, to provide free firewood to people in need with a focus on economically-challenged households that heat primarily or solely with wood.
Wayfinder Schools: Supporting misplaced students or students who need a second chance at a high school graduation in Knox County.
Window Dressers: To provide insulating window inserts to low-income families in Knox County at no or low cost.
About West Bay Rotary
For 40 years, West Bay Rotary has been dedicated to supporting local nonprofits through service, collaboration, and philanthropy. To learn more about its initiatives and how you can get involved, visit www.WestBayRotaryOfMaine.org or come to a weekly meetings, Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the First Congregational Church in Camden. All are welcome.
West Bay Rotary's spring grants support 12 local charities. Pictured here are (front row) Whitney Files, Pen Bay YMCA, Andrea Vassallo, Wayfinders, Connie Evans, Window Dressers, Kris Landi, Lincolnville Community Library, Lura Robinson, Midcoast Recovery Coalition; (back row) John Viehman, WBR Community Service Committee Chair, Alan Kearl, AIO Food Pantry, Peg Drisko, New Hope Midcoast, John Frommer, Merryspring Nature Center, Kristy Kilfoyle, Camden Public Library, Stephanie Welch, Trekkers, Anne Saggese, Waldo County Woodshed, Nicole Pomeroy, Trekkers.
