The Camden Rotary Club has awarded $50,000 in grants to 13 local nonprofit organizations providing vital services in the areas of food security, housing, health and safety, youth development, and economic security.

The Penobscot Bay YMCA received $7,000 to sustain and strengthen its childcare program, which is the largest in Knox County. This grant will support ongoing operations, provide financial assistance to families who cannot access DHHS subsidies, and help maintain the Lily Pond Infant Care Center.

MCH Meals on Wheels received $6,000 to support the delivery of nutritious, hot meals to individuals with disabilities throughout Knox County. The organization served 290 individuals last year and expects that number to increase.

AIO Food & Energy Assistance will use its $5,000 grant to support food delivery to households without transportation or mobility. The program currently serves approximately 165 households weekly, delivering fresh produce, proteins, dairy, and shelf-stable staples to each family’s home. By the end of 2026, AIO expects the program to continue growing to 200+ households weekly.

Three organizations received $5,000 grants: Homeworthy, to connect uninsured Midcoast youth to essential supports; MidCoast Regional Housing Trust, to build attainable housing at its multifamily Homestead development in Rockport; and Wayfinder Schools for its Passages Program, which enables young people in abusive family situations and youth who do not thrive in typical learning environments to earn high school diplomas. 

Grants of $4,000 went to the Camden Area District Nursing Association for the use of digital infrastructure to improve community access to medical equipment and home-based care; Knox Clinic, to expand its dental care program; and Sweetser, to provide community-based mental health access for uninsured residents of Knox County and Lincolnville.

Four organizations received grants of $1,250: Camden Public Library, to support struggling readers in Camden and beyond; Coastal Family Hospice, for expanding hospice support services, including pet care, vigil, and palliative care; Mid-Coast School of Technology, to provide student recognition for exceptional performance; and Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, to provide sustainable aquaculture learning experiences for The Landing Place Youth.

The Camden Rotary Club, founded in 1925, has a long tradition of community service and support for international initiatives. Club fundraisers and investment income enable the club to support nonprofit organizations serving Knox County and Lincolnville. The 2027 grant application process will start in December.

Visitors are welcome to attend the club's meetings at noon on Tuesdays, either in person at the First Congregational Church in Camden or via Zoom. Details are available at www.camdenrotary.org.