About

Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors (YarmouthCAN or YCAN) tracks local resources in Yarmouth, Maine, connects resources with people who need them, and works to fill the gaps.

Mission Statement

YCAN connects people in the Yarmouth, Maine community with needed resources, and builds community by encouraging volunteerism and collaborating with other community-based groups when appropriate.

Vision Statement

YCAN will work to create a welcoming community by highlighting available community resources and volunteer opportunities for community members of all ages and abilities.

The organization was founded in late 2008 by concerned citizens in Yarmouth, Maine, with Julia Martin as its founding President. YCAN seeks to fulfill its mission through activities such as:

  • Compiling a directory of available resources, and providing information about the availability of organizations that provide social services and assisting in meeting other human needs.
  • Providing a forum to identify and assess needs.
  • Providing a forum for providers of social services to meet and coordinate efforts.
  • Identifying segments of the community who have needs that are not being met by existing services.
  • Facilitating the development of programs designed to address identified needs.
  • Assisting individuals in contacting organizations that may be able to provide needed services.
  • Coordinating the provision of services or assistance and, where appropriate, by directly providing services or assistance to community members in need.
  • Providing volunteer opportunities for community members to support and participate in activities to benefit the Yarmouth Community and its members.
  • Helping to raise funds as needed for programs that are meeting community needs.

Achievements to date

  • YCAN publishes and updates its Resource Guide.
  • A YCAN telephone number provides referrals for those seeking assistance.
  • Yarmouth Cares Fund (formerly called the Fuel Fund) has raised over $25,000 annually to help Yarmouth residents in need. Assistance can include heating, winterization, food, clothing, and transportation.
  • YCAN helps fund additional fuel for several dozen households in need each winter.
  • YCAN organized a forum for service organizations in the smaller towns surrounding Portland, allowing groups to share ideas and experiences with one another about how we can best meet the needs of our residents.
  • YCAN has organized periodic Community Meetings to solicit raise awareness of the needs within our community and solicit ideas for ways to meet them.
  • Several community food pantries merged to create The Yarmouth Community Food Pantry, which YCAN supports with publicity, fundraising, and accounting services. The Food Pantry serves over 50 Yarmouth families each year.
  • Nutrition Closet is a supplemental food program for students with unstable access to weekend food while school is in session. YCAN provides financial support to this program, which is organized and run by Yarmouth School Department staff.
  • Lunch Crunch, organized by Yarmouth Community Services, provides free summer lunches to low income children under the age of 18 in Yarmouth, to help ensure they receive adequate nutrition while school is not in session.  YCAN has provided financial support to this program since 2015.
  • Project Holiday helps families in need provide holiday gifts and food for their children, with YCAN providing some publicity and funding for an annual collaboration between many Yarmouth organizations. It serves several hundred children and adults each year.
  • Operation Bundle-Up collects outgrown winter outerwear, cleans it, and distributes it to several dozen local families in need, with YCAN providing publicity and coordination.
  • The Rides Program coordinates volunteer drivers to help those who cannot drive get to local shopping areas or medical appointments, with YCAN providing publicity and support.
  • The Yarmouth Community Garden applied for and received a grant, with YCAN serving as the 501(c)(3) umbrella organization for the funding.

2023-24 Board of Directors
Jean Rafford, President
Nancy Gorden, Vice-President
Bill Richards, Treasurer
Cathy Gavin, Secretary
Sandy Bowie
Penni Groves
Clyde Hodgkin
Lynn Hynes
Leigh Kirchner
Karyn MacNeill
Debbie Roux

YCAN is always seeking new or future Board members. Please contact us if you are interested in joining!