Penobscot Bay YMCA receives $2,000 gift for After School financial assistance
Students from the Y’s After School Program at South School join Director of Sports, Camping, and After School Care Benjie Blake and CEO Whitney Files for a check presentation from Karen Littlefield of B.O.G. balance bookkeeping, LLC, and her husband Errol Littlefield, an Ed Tech 3 at South School. (Photo courtesy Penobscot Bay YMCA)
Students from the Y’s After School Program at South School join Director of Sports, Camping, and After School Care Benjie Blake and CEO Whitney Files for a check presentation from Karen Littlefield of B.O.G. balance bookkeeping, LLC, and her husband Errol Littlefield, an Ed Tech 3 at South School. (Photo courtesy Penobscot Bay YMCA)
ROCKLAND — The Penobscot Bay YMCA’s After School Program has been awarded $2,000 from B.O.G. balanced bookkeeping, LLC to launch a new financial assistance fund for families in need this coming school year.
The Y’s licensed after school programs provide care for families with children in grades K to 5 at four elementary schools throughout Knox County – Ash Point Community School in Owls Head, South School in Rockland, Thomaston Grammar School in Thomaston, and the Camden Rockport Elementary School in Rockport.
“Each year we serve 150 students in our after school programs,” said Whitney Files, Penobscot Bay YMCA CEO, in a news release. “When the school bell rings at the end of the day, many working parents in our community are unable to pick up their children or meet the school bus at home. These working parents rely on caring staff at the Y to provide safe, fun, quality programs for their children after school. This funding makes it possible for us to ensure that no child or family is turned away from our after school programs due to the inability to pay for care. We are deeply grateful to Karen Littlefield at B.O.G. balanced bookkeeping, LLC for this wonderful gift.”
The Y’s After School programs provide school age children with a safe, caring environment for learning and play, including STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities, games, physical activities, crafts and more. The Y accepts Maine State subsidy payments known as CCAP for all of their child care programs, including after school, camp and early child care. However, some families do not qualify for CCAP and still face financial hardship. Thanks to support from donors, Y financial assistance is available to families who do not qualify for CCAP, making it an inclusive and accessible program. Enrollment for the Y’s 2024 - 2025 After School Programs is now open online.
The Y is for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. To learn more about the Y’s After School, Summer Camp or Child Care programs or to make a donation to ensure these important programs remain affordable to everyone in our community, please contact the Y at 236.3375 or visit www.penbayymca.org.
