A guest blog posting by YCAN board member,  Bill Richards

Good schools, activities for every age group, relaxed ambience, attractive housing, responsive government, neighborly people – these are all things that most residents see as assets to our town.

Another asset that makes Yarmouth really special:  caring.  Through churches, fraternal organizations, social clubs, and other groups, Yarmouth folks show how they care about each other.

Many years ago, that caring coalesced into an organization aptly named Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors.  YCAN, as it is fondly known, is a non-profit organization which supports a variety of programs and services to help people who find themselves in need.  There is no office, no paid staff – just three mobile phones and lots of volunteers who bring these programs to life.

As one person puts it:

When people ask me why I volunteer, I explain that I really enjoy giving back to my community.  YCAN serves many people in so many ways within the Yarmouth community.  It’s the perfect way to give back to a town that has meant so much to me and my family.

Following here are a few examples of services YCAN supports.  A full list is on the YCAN website, https://ycan.info. 

By the end of  2025 the Yarmouth Community Food Pantry provided healthy food and personal items to an average of 74  of families, an increase from years before. In addition, 96 baskets Thanksgiving a feast for 371 people, and 95 holiday baskets made Christmas merrier.

The Pantry is staffed by volunteers who find the work gratifying:

There’s never a day at the Yarmouth Community Food Pantry where patrons don’t express their thanks and gratitude for all that they receive from the pantry.  Sometimes it’s hard for them to express their thanks using their second language or finding the right words to express what it means, but they always find a way to let know how much of an impact the pantry has on their lives.

YCAN works closely with Yarmouth Community Services (YCS), a Department of the Town, to provide over $12,000 in heating assistance for people whose income exceeds government limitations.  YCS also connects YCAN to our schools so that we can help with student needs, like providing a backpack or a coat to a kid who might otherwise be looked down upon because their family can’t afford one. 

The Emergency Assistance Program is just what the name says:  helping people with an unexpected problem when they don’t have the resources to resolve it on their own.  Examples:

• A person who struggled to manage personal finances received help from a financial planner.
• A person who needed her old car to get to work could not afford to pay for unexpectedly high repair expenses.  (The shop was honest about its prices.)  EAN covered the expense over and above what the person was able to pay.
• Some handicapped grantees received help with accessibility in their homes.

Aging in Place (AIP) collaborates with town departments and other organizations to support activities and services for seniors.  Examples include:

• A recent new support group called Next Chapter meets monthly to share experiences of transitioning through the months and years of aging.  People who have experienced loss of a loved one are very grateful to have a place to share their stories
• The Snow Shovel Brigade pairs willing and able shovelers with folks who might otherwise be stuck at home.
• The AIP group meets monthly (except for summer) with Yarmouth town department heads and members of other related agencies to learn about the services they make available to seniors.

Membership is open to all. 

YCAN’s Rides Program offers volunteer drivers to provide free rides for folks who can’t drive but have to be somewhere important, such as doctor’s appointment, their bank, or an Aging in Place event.  In 2025, the program provided as many as 18 rides per month to meet critical transportation needs.

Project Holiday ensures that no kids go without presents due to family circumstances.  In 2025, 50 families and 115 children had a merrier holiday with gifts, warm clothing, toys, and gift cards provided by this YCAN program.

In partnership with Yarmouth Community Service, YCAN volunteers collect new and gently used winter outerwear items for distribution to children and adults in need.  The Operation Bundle Up closet is located at Yarmouth Community Services offices.  This year the Global Action Club at the Yarmouth High School donated  gently used outer wear that they collected and the Knights of Columbus donated brand new Jackets of all sizes. YCAN provides funding to purchase new winter wear as needed beyond what is donated.

None of these services and programs would be possible without generous donors.  During 2025 174 individuals and organizations contributed $132,840.  (Several donors contributed more than once, some as often as monthly). Together with what is already in the YCAN checking account, 2026 donations will enable YCAN to support expected services and programs and address new needs, so that YCAN is even more of an asset to Yarmouth.

YCAN’s MISSION

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

Bill Richards has served on the Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors Board of Directors for more than five years; four of those as Treasurer of the organization. He also served as president of several non-profits, including United Way of Greater Portland, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and InTown Portland Exchange (the name has since changed). He trained United Way Loaned Executives for 25 years. He is a valued member of the YCAN board and now a guest blogger.

Top photo provided by Town of Yarmouth.