YMCA of Southern Maine, Northern York County Branch

For nearly 25 years, the YMCA of Southern Maine’s Northern York County Branch (formerly the Northern York County Family YMCA) has been committed to teaching and demonstrating healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. The 26,000 square-foot facility, located on a wooded 26 acre property on Alfred Street in Biddeford, is much more than “just another workout facility.” Programs at the YMCA are designed to help members of our community develop strong bodies, minds, and spirits.

The YMCA reaches out to the many vulnerable populations in our community, regardless of their ability to pay. Services include after-school care and childcare, outdoor summer camps, aquatics programs, sports, health and fitness, youth counseling, and senior assistance. In 2011, they served more than 3500 members, 37% of whom were children and youth.

While there are many programs, we would like to highlight just two to give you an idea of the good work the YMCA is doing.

Camp Sokokis is a high quality summer camp for children, youth, and teens with a diverse range of needs and interests. Through the four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, the Northern York County Family YMCA strives to help each camper develop and nurture a healthy spirit, mind and body and to build positive friendships and experiences based on these values. Camp Sokokis attendance grows every year, reaching 110 children per week in 2010 and 135 children per week in 2011.

The Community Center Childcare Program has been a high quality childcare option for the community for 15 years. For most working families, childcare is a necessity in their daily lives. Knowing their young children, including infants, will receive the best quality of care relieves stress in the lives of parents in our community. The Center is licensed to serve 70 children between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 years. The YMCA is committed to providing accessibility for families who cannot otherwise afford it. In 2011, the YMCA awarded scholarships to more than 25% of the children in the Center.

grantwinners.net has had the privilege of providing research, writing, and proposal preparation services to YMCA of Southern Maine’s Northern York County Branch as a part of their grant winning process. For more information about this great Maine community organization, please visit http://www.ymcaofsouthernmaine.org/nycymca.