BELFAST — Waldo Community Action Partners kicked off a year of honor and celebration Monday as they embark on their 60th year of service to the people of Waldo County and beyond.

Six decades ago, on April 26, 1965, the original Board of Directors for what was then known as the Waldo County Committee for Social Action signed the Articles of Incorporation that created the community action agency we now know as Waldo Community Action Partners. Monday, WCAP announced a year of planned awareness activities to honor the past 60 years while looking forward to what the next 60 years might bring.

“Our 60th anniversary is the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to refocus on where we are headed,” said WCAP President and CEO Donna M. Kelley, LCSW. “Despite some uncertainties with which community action agencies everywhere are facing presently, we here at Waldo CAP have so much to be grateful for: this wonderful community, our partner organizations, and our staff who show up to work every day ready to help in any way they can. As we navigate this next year, our hope is to find a permanent home, and to work with our partners at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure community action continues to provide valuable resources for people who live in poverty in Waldo County.”

At an exclusive media event, WCAP unveiled a temporary logo that will replace their current logo for the duration of their 60th year, which will run from April 26, 2025 through April 25, 2026. At the event, current Board members and the organization’s senior level staff announced internal and external activities planned for the upcoming year.

WCAP also intends on increasing its presence in the Waldo County community at various community events throughout the year.

“Being present and accessible in the community is always our goal, but in this 60th year, we see an opportunity to make an even more concentrated effort to be out there sharing the story of community action and its impact and importance in people’s lives,” said WCAP Development Director Monica Pettengill.

Some of the activities include a time capsule that they will seal in August and will bury when the organization arrives at its new permanent location, a timeline and exact location of which has yet to be finalized. Internally, on May 1, WCAP will launch a 60-mile walking challenge with prizes awarded after the challenge ends on October 1. This healthy challenge will be issued to other Waldo County nonprofits with an opportunity to win a $600 prize.

WCAP also announced that it is in the process of planning a community event later in the year, that will celebrate WCAP’s impact in Waldo County.

WCAP serves approximately 6,500 people in Waldo County and beyond annually, with programs and services that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty and provide individuals and families opportunities to improve their quality of life.

Waldo Community Action Partners is a charitable, educational, 501(c)(3) private non-profit organization located in Belfast, Maine. It is designed to utilize and mobilize public and private resources to assist low-income Waldo County residents in the alleviation of poverty and address its underlying causes. For additional information, please visit www.waldocap.org.