Winter is not over yet (despite the occasional beginnings of mud season), so we expect total expenditures to continue growing between now and when warm weather becomes more predictable. Last year at this time we had assisted 32 households – so this year’s need to date has been 90% greater than last year’s despite our relatively mild winter. Our community has made it possible to meet this increased need.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped us exceed our 2011 goal, including:

Albert & Lois Howlett
Anonymous Donors
Artisans at the Log Cabin & Jill Thomas
Carol & David Ertz
Carol Barthold
Carol Spruce
Carolyn & Edgar Beem
Carolyn Dahlgren
Casco Bay Ford
Casco Bay Wireless
Casco Lodge #36
Catherine Landry
Charles Tibbetts
Charlie Sawyer
Charmian Cutler
Chip & Lynn Roche
Chris & Brenda Whitney
Chris & Patti Arapoglou
Christopher Condon
Clayton’s
Connie Hildreth
Constance & David Hildreth
Darrell Pardy
David & Elizabeth Fleury
David & Pamela Adams
Debra Hopkins
DeLorme
Dick & Debbie Woodbury
Dirigo Hobbies
Donna Felker
Doris Salzman
Dorothy Gossett
Douglas Title Company
Ed Libby
Eleanor Irish
Ellen & David Ruffner
First Universalist Church
Gilbert & Laurie Broberg
Goff’s Hardware
Gwen
Helen M Walker
Helen Maxwell
Homestead Flooring
James & Kathleen Case
James Fallon
Jane & Dennis Gildart
Jennifer & Bennett Wilson
Jennifer Lenardson
Jim Costello
Joan Russell
John & Antoinette Menario
John Palmer
John Sedgewick & Deborah Keefe
Judith & William Eycleshymer
Judith Heap
Judith Oliver
Julie Benavides
Just Friends Inc
Kathleen Kolb
Kent Peterson
Lee Mallett & Caroline Hartly
Leon Gorman
Linda Conner
Maine Marathon
Mark Tux Turkel & Amy Sinclair
Mary Conneen
Mary Engel
Mary Finnegan
Mary Gorden
Matthew Chin
Mercer & Sons
Mitchel Rasor
Myron & Meredith Hamer
Nancy Sheriff
Nelson & Betsy Mead
Norway Savings Bank
Patricia Merrill
Paul & Kathleen Hassett
Paula Beverage
People’s United Bank
Peter Anastos
Philip & Joy Ahrens
Quality Containers
Robert Scarlata
Robin Hodgskin & Art Bell
Ruth Beamis
Sandie Randall
Sarah Downs & James Bowie
Sarah Marshall
Sarah Witte
Sharon Kelley
Stephen & Kyle Atwell
Steven & Joyce Bell
Sue Mandell
Ted & Ellen Russell
Terrence DeWan Associates
The Meyers Family
The Mortgage Office
The Notes
The Woods Family
Tim & Howsie Stewart
Town of Yarmouth
Virginia & Gregory Field
Vreeland Marketing
William Bowler
Yarmouth Boat Yard
Yarmouth Chamber Raffle
Yarmouth Frame Shop
Yarmouth Health Council
Yarmouth Lions Club
Yarmouth Veterinary Center
Zara Briggs

The Yarmouth Community Food Pantry, Fuel Assistance Fund, and Seniors Are Treasures programs can always put your time, goods, or funds to good use! Click on any of the highlighted program names above for more information.

YarmouthCAN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit

We are interested in developing a program (Seniors Are Treasures) to assist Yarmouth seniors, and we wish to learn about your needs and concerns:
- need a ride somewhere?
- need help moving that porch furniture?
- want some company?
- etc.

Please join us if you are a senior in need of services, who would benefit from such a community-wide program, or if you are an interested citizen who might volunteer to assist in such a program.

There is no charge for the lunch, but you must reserve a spot by calling 829-4354 by February 20^th to aid in our planning.

• Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors (YCAN)
• First Parish Congregational Church
• Yarmouth Community Food Pantry
• Lions Club
• Yarmouth Fire and Rescue’s Hats and Mittens collection
• Girl Scouts
• 14 individual residents and businesses
• All of the volunteers who helped with distribution

All of the above groups worked together to ensure that each family had food on the table, something to keep them warm, and something to help the children believe in Santa Claus.

YCAN was formed to bring the community together to help residents who need assistance.  Project Holiday is a shining example of what can happen when we all band together for a common cause.  Our community can and does make a difference!

Students at the Harrison Middle School recently completed a celebration of Geography Awareness Week. This year’s theme was Geography: An Adventure in Our Community. Students were involved in many activities throughout the week to help them improve their geographic literacy. In addition, they focus on a service learning project each year to demonstrate good citizenship.

The beneficiary of this year’s service project was the Yarmouth Community Food Pantry. The student body collected coins (nickels, dimes, and quarters) for five days to donate to the pantry. A check for $730 was presented to Pantry Manager Sue Rowe to help people in need in Yarmouth. Geography Awareness Week is an annual event sponsored by National Geographic throughout the country.

In the past, local residents and businesses have stepped forward and volunteered to help with this endeavor by either adopting a family or making a donation.  If adopting a family is beyond your means, but you would like to help, consider getting together with family or friends to share the expense and make someone else’s Holidays brighter.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.  Please see our Project Holiday page or call YCAN at (207) 838-2261, give us your name and telephone number and we will call you with details about how you can help.

Any family needing assistance should consult our Holiday Support page.  You may download a support request form, or call the above number to receive a form (leave your name, telephone number and an address to have the form mailed to you).  Forms are also available in person at Yarmouth Community Services, 200 Main Street, Yarmouth (behind Town Hall).

As this year’s heating season begins, applications for Fuel Assistance have been received from 63% more households than last year at this time. 77% of those applying for assistance this year did not apply for assistance last year, so it appears as though the need will be considerably greater this winter.  It also appears as though Federal funding of the LIHEAP program will be reduced from last year’s level (as reported on Nov. 27 in the New York Times), which will further increase dependence on funds allocated by the Town or raised by Yarmouth CAN.

Testimonials

One recipient of Fuel Assistance last winter was a single mother with a child, who decided to return to school at age 54 after a job change. She told us:
- “I will be forever grateful for the fuel assistance I received when funds were low.”
- “As a mom, what is most important to me is maintaining a home for my child, providing a warm bed to sleep in, and proper nutrition to keep my child healthy.”
- “As I find myself turning up the thermostat for the first time this season, I can only hope that this year my home will be warm again.”
- “Knowing that our local community is there to help when times get tough is a great comfort to me and my family.”

A second Fuel Assistance recipient in 2010-2011 was a mother of two grown children who was living alone in an apartment, and had been out of work for six years with back problems. She generally relied on family members for assistance, but the Fuel Assistance was greatly appreciated last year. In order to conserve her fuel for when it was most needed, she heated water for dish-washing on the stove and took showers sparingly. She could not have gotten through the winter without help from the Fuel Assistance Fund.

Please help us raise $20,000 in Fuel Assistance this winter!

Every $316 contributed last year helped one recipient or family make it through last winter. Your willingness to help out a neighbor in need makes a big difference, even if you can only contribute a small amount. When put together, our contributions add up to something big: Community.

Click here to learn more about how you can help us reach our $20,000 fundraising goal for the Fuel Assistance Fund this year. If every household in Yarmouth donated $6, or $2.40 per person, we can meet this goal. Please consider a larger amount than this, as not every household can afford to make a gift.  Thank you!