ROCKLAND — The new year comes with new opportunities for the Maine Lobster Festival to give back to the local communities. In recent months, the Maine Lobster Festival Board of Directors offered financial support to three organizations in Midcoast Maine.

Camden-Rockport Middle School's Japan Student Exchange

Camden-Rockport Middle School has sponsored a unique exchange program with the school board in Hirakawa in Aomori Prefecture, Japan for the past sixteen years.

In February, the Board of Directors gifted $300 to the exchange program, which will allow ten CRMS students to go to Japan this year. Several of these students met with the Maine Lobster Festival directors during the presentation of the gift.

Oceanside High School's "Backpack Program"

The "Backpack Program" assures that students have essential resources during weekends. The Board of Directors presented $500 to representatives of the "Backpack Program" in February.

Meals on Wheels

The Maine Lobster Festival has offered financial support for Meals on Wheels for many years, and they did so again in 2015. The Board of Directors presented Meals on Wheels with $500 to continue their efforts of bringing hot meals to local residents in Knox County.

The Maine Lobster Festival attracts thousands of people to Maine's Midcoast region, and has a long tradition of giving back to the local community. In recent years, the Festival committee has given more than $500,000 to the local community through support for Midcoast Regional Child Development Services, Trekkers, Meals on Wheels, and much more.

For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, visit www.mainelobsterfestival.com/, "like" them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter at @MELobsterFest.