About

Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors (YarmouthCAN or YCAN) is an all volunteer, registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people in the Yarmouth, Maine community with needed resources and to help build community by encouraging volunteerism and collaboration with other community-based groups.

In partnership with the Town of Yarmouth, Yarmouth Community Services, the Yarmouth Schools, and other town and regional non-profit organizations, YCAN serves as an umbrella organization for many of the needs-based programs in Yarmouth, ME.  These include: the Yarmouth Community Food Pantry, the Home Heating Assistance Program, Project Holiday, Aging in Place, the Rides Program, Operation Bundle-Up, Emergency/Acute Needs Program, and the Grants Program.

Mission Statement

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.

Two girls working on Yarmouth Town Garden

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, and continues to thrive and grow today.  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.
Assisting individuals in contacting organizations that may be able to provide needed services.
Helping to raise support as needed for programs that are meeting community needs.
YCAN collaborates with other town service programs to assist our neighbors in Yarmouth, Maine.
Identifying segments of the community who have needs that are not being met by existing services.
Coordinating the provision of services or assistance and, where appropriate, by directly providing services or assistance to community members in need.
Providing a forum for providers of social services to meet and coordinate efforts.
Facilitating the development of programs designed to address identified needs.
Providing volunteer opportunities for community members to support and participate in activities to benefit the Yarmouth Community and its members.

Achievements to date

YCAN publishes and updates its Resource Guide.
YCAN offers home heating assistance for several dozen households in need each winter.
Several community food pantries merged to create The Yarmouth Community Food Pantry, which YCAN supports with publicity, fundraising, and accounting services. The Food Pantry now serves over 100 Yarmouth families each year.
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.
The Yarmouth Community Garden applied for and received a grant, with YCAN serving as the 501(c)(3) umbrella organization for the funding.
A YCAN telephone number provides referrals for those seeking assistance.
Yarmouth Community Food Pantry receives financial and grant support through YCAN.
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.
Through its Grants Program, YCAN has funded the School Nutrition Closet in collaboration with the Yarmouth School Nutrition Department.  The Nutrition Closet provides snack food, as needed, to students in all four Yarmouth schools during the school day and has also provided shelf-stable, take-home food on Fridays to any student facing weekend food insecurity.
YCAN has donated  annually to help Yarmouth residents in need. Assistance can include heating, winterization, food, clothing, and transportation.
YCAN has organized periodic Community Meetings to raise awareness of the needs within our community and solicit ideas for ways to meet them.
Lunch Crunch, organized by Yarmouth Community Services, provided 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 provided financial support to this program.
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.
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2025 Board of Directors

Clyde Hodgkin, President
Penni Groves, Vice-President
Lynn Hynes, Treasurer
Cathy Gavin, Secretary
Sandy Bowie 
Kerry Fairlie
Nancy Gorden
Bill Richards
Leigh Kirchner
Karyn MacNeill
Marti Mayne
Jean Rafford
Debbie Roux

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

Yarmouth Maine Aerial view of Main Street