At the Central Lincoln County YMCA, our mission is to enrich lives, strengthen community and drive social change. Due to the generous support of our community, we are able to continue to fulfill this mission and provide a safe place every day for hundreds of Lincoln County residents to be healthier, happier and more engaged. We are proud to serve more than 4,000 active community members who utilize our facilities; participate in classes, camps and programs; and most importantly are part of our collective Y family.
ABOUT FARMS AT THE Y
The Central Lincoln County YMCA FARMS at the Y program strives to provide education about good nutrition and the role of local farms in promoting healthy, sustainable communities.
FARMS at the Y offers hands-on experiences for people of all ages to develop expertise in cooking and gardening and a passion for healthy living, we are able to excite and educate about the value and joy of growing, preparing, and eating nutritious local foods. Bringing food and gardening education to children and adults in our community fosters a more cohesive experience for everyone. When people have their hands in the soil, they have a closer connection to how their food grows and may develop a love for learning how to cook this food.
We are trying to create a farm-to-table experience for all people young and old. Explore the variety of programs available, for youth and for adults, by clicking the buttons below.
FARMS AT THE Y ANNUAL FUND
Due to the generous support of our community, we are able to continue to fulfill our mission and provide a safe place every day for hundreds of Lincoln County residents to be healthier, happier and more engaged.
Unrestricted gifts to support the FARMS at the Y Annual Fund make a BIG difference in our community and provide the support needed for the CLC YMCA to continue to offer resources for our programs and resources, such as:
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Youth, adult and senior activities, programs and camps
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FARMS kitchen facility, appliances and cooking tools
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Staff and educational materials
Note: Donors to the Central Lincoln County Annual Fund do not receive any goods and services of monetary value for gifts made. Your gift to the CLC YMCA is tax-deductible as allowed by law. If gifts exceed the FARMS at the Y Annual Fund goal, the additional funds raised will be used to support the CLC YMCA Annual Fund to support our greatest needs. The CLC Y is a 501 (c)(3) organization registered with the State of Maine. Charter #19890499ND.
FARMS AT THE Y ADOPT A CLASS
FARMS at the Y offers donors the unique opportunity to not only make a gift to support community and school programming but also invites the donor to "adopt a class" of third grade students and get involved with that class as much or as little as they'd like.
Benefits include:
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Join your adopted class during their FARMS at the Y teaching kitchen and witness the excitement, growth and new-found skills resulting from your generosity;
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Receive a photo of your class enjoying learning and trying new foods, recipes and interactive lessons; and
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Receive a personal thank you note from your adopted class of students, sharing what they’ve learned.
When you “adopt” a class, you give students the opportunity to not only learn to cook, but to also harvest the food, follow recipe instructions, learn about local foods and so much more! With your support, we will be able to teach third grade students how to cook with healthy local foods — impactful life lessons that they can take with them moving forward and share with family and friends.
COMMUNITY-WIDE SCHOOL COLLABORATIONS
We currently provide monthly classes for 3rd grade classes (averaging 18 students per class) and service-based field trips and programming for multiple class grades from the following schools:
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Bristol Consolidated
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CLC YMCA childcare programs
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Coastal Kids Preschool
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Great Salt Bay Community (3rd - 8th grades)
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Jefferson Village
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Medomak Middle School (7th & 8th grades)
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Nobleboro Central
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South Bristol Schools
GET INVOLVED WITH ADOPT A CLASS
We understand if you are not able to adopt an entire class, but please know that a gift of any size will make a significant impact. We’d love to be able to tell every third-grade class in Central Lincoln County schools that they can attend a FARMS at the Y cooking class, regardless of financial circumstances.
With your help we can make FARMS at the Y a reality for all third graders in our community this year!
GIFT AMOUNTS & IMPACTS MADE
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$1,164 = Provides the FARMS at the Y experience for 54 3rd grade students in our community (three classes)
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$776 = Provides the FARMS at the Y experience for 36 3rd grade students in our community (two classes)
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$338 = Provides the FARMS at the Y experience for 18 3rd grade students in our community (1 class)
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$100 = Provides support for program resources and instructors
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$50 = Supports program supplies
Note: Donors to the Central Lincoln County Adopt a Class program do not receive any goods and services of monetary value for gifts made. Your gift to the CLC YMCA is tax-deductible as allowed by law. If gifts exceed the FARMS at the Y Adopt a Class goal, the additional funds raised will be used to support CLC YMCA FARMS at the Y and the Annual Fund — to support our greatest needs. The CLC Y is a 501 (c)(3) organization registered with the State of Maine. Charter #19890499ND.
IMPACT IN ACTION
FARMS at the Y has a significant impact on student health and well-being — made possible by reoccurring classes in the teaching kitchen.
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Educators and volunteers have observed the changes in student's cooking skills and knowledge of local vegetables (both identifying and how to cook them) after multiple visits.
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Students demonstrate and develop fine and gross motor skills, attention to detail, focus on sequential tasks, and independent and group problem solving.
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Participating adults have observed student growth and maturity when they are empowered by tool and skill mastery.
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Countless stories have been shared by teachers and care givers of students excited and eager to share at home all that they've learned in the teaching kitchen. Students translate their learning by preparing meals, choosing vegetables at the grocery store, sharing new recipes, trying new foods and more!
CONNECTING THE CURRICULUM
FARMS at the Y complements classroom curriculums by providing students with hands-on experience that incorporates a wide variety of educational and practical-use subject areas.
Science
Pollination, traits, food chains, scientific drawings of plants, gardening, hydroponics
Social Studies
Cultural differences, international cooking, food deserts, cultural traditions
Math
Units of measurement, estimation, liquid volume, fractions, time & time intervals
Health
Disease prevention through diet, health-enhancing behaviors, interpersonal communications
Reading
Accuracy & comprehension, summarize text, read out loud, vocabulary, abbreviations
Writing
Opinion pieces, poetry, recipe development, thank you letters to donors
Art
Posters of kitchen rules/tool use, drawing from life, garden design & maps, illustration
Performing Arts
Public speaking, song writing, presenting
HOW YOU CAN GIVE
A number of options are available for how you can make your gift — including online (credit card or electronic fund transfer), by mail, in person or by phone.
Online
Make your gift online through our secure online giving system. Choose your designation, amount, and any additional information about your gift.
If choosing to make your gift by mail, please make your check payable to Central Lincoln County YMCA, write "Annual Fund" in the memo line (be sure to include program name if designating to a program area annual fund) and send to the following address:
Central Lincoln County YMCA
Attn: Development
525 Main Street
PO Box 787
Damariscotta, ME 04543
Other Giving Options
Additionally, gifts can also be made through planned giving, securities, matching gifts, estate legacies, or real estate.
For more information, please contact Central Lincoln YMCA Development Office at 207.563.9622 or kburke@clcymca.org.