CAMDEN — The Camden Rotary Club has announced $27,000 in grants to five organizations this spring.

Camden Rotary Club distributes grants every year and, during the past decade, has contributed more than $250,000 to nonprofit organizations in Knox County and Lincolnville. Upcoming events, including the club's Super Raffle and Music by the Sea Celebration on Independence Day, will raise funds for future grants. 

MCH Meals on Wheels will receive $10,000 to support the delivery of nutritious meals to homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities. In 2021, MCH staff prepared and coordinated the delivery of 45,641 meals to 280 elderly clients and individuals with disabilities.

The Knox County Homeless Coalition will receive $5,000 for the first year of their Car Caper Program, funding routine repairs for four KCHC agency vehicles used for client and case manager transportation. The program will also ensure that pre-owned vehicles donated are safe and road-ready for clients’ use. Clients will also benefit from minor car repairs throughout the year.

A $5,000 grant to the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership will support its Pen Bay Leadership Collaborative (PBLC) Youth Leadership & Community Engagement Program. The grant will help cover costs for middle school students attending the center's summer classes and developing community projects for implementation in the fall. 

Sundog Outdoor Expeditions' School Outdoor Expedition program will receive a youth-oriented grant of $5,000. The funds will help cover costs for middle school students to participate in physically challenging activities that foster a deep connection with Maine's natural resources.

Grants of $1,000 each will go to the Merryspring Nature Center's two-week Summer Ecology Camp for young children and the Knox County Health Clinic (Mid-Coast Health Net, Inc.) Bringing Smiles to our Children Program. The grant will pay for the program's clinical supplies in providing dental care to low-income families.

The Camden Rotary Club has served the local community for over 95 years by raising money for charitable causes, distributing scholarships, and participating in various service projects. The public can attend the club's meetings at noon on Tuesdays, either in person at the First Congregational Church in Camden or via Zoom. Complete details are available at www.camdenrotary.org.