Penobscot Bay YMCA has submitted the following statement:

The Penobscot Bay YMCA announces its Sustainability Campaign as the Y emerges from its three-month closure with Governor Mills’ phased reopening plan firmly in place.

During the mandated closure, those members who continued to pay membership dues enabled the Y to pivot and serve immediate community needs. The Y reopened partially on June 12, and continues to adjust as Governor Mills’ restrictions shift.  During this crisis, the Y served the community through its Essential Providers Childcare, by acting as a Red Cross blood donation site, and as a food donation drop point for area food pantries.  

CEO Melissa Bellew states “These past months have been like no other in the history of our YMCA.  We’ve been challenged to manage the extraordinary impact this global crisis has on our business and our ability to serve our community. In order for our Y to survive and maintain all programming, childcare, and camp, we need financial support. Our Sustainability Campaign will directly support the Y’s operations.”

To ensure that the Y will be able to respond to the community’s needs, the Y is launching this campaign to support daily operations. From July to Labor Day, this campaign will directly address the devastating financial impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on the Y.

Founded in 1915, the Penobscot Bay YMCA started as the Camden Area YMCA, remaining to this day one of the country’s oldest, continuing, small community YMCAs. Today, the Penobscot Bay YMCA serves members, ranging from children in the Early Learning childcare programs to seniors. Currently, the Y is the largest childcare provider in Knox County, serving children on a weekly basis through its early learning programs, drop-in care, and before/after-school programs. The Y also offers youth sports programs in Knox County, including swimming, gymnastics, basketball, and recreation programs.

In addition, the Y serves a large senior population, offering its popular Healthy Seniors fitness and wellness programs, senior aquatics programs, a therapy pool for rehabilitation services, and luncheons for seniors.

In addition to year-round offerings, the Penobscot Bay YMCA also operates the largest summer camp program in Knox County.

For more information, please contact Melissa Bellew at mbellew@penbayymca.org.

At the Y, we are for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.