ROCKPORT — The Penobscot Bay YMCA launched their fall membership drive with a new twist this year. New and lapsed Y members can join the Y for free and pay $0 in 2023 when they donate to the Y’s Healthy Snack Drive for Youth.

Community members who join the Y now through the end of December will enjoy free membership until January 2024, when they will begin paying dues. The Y is using their fall membership drive as a way to ensure that all children in their local after school programs, early child care centers, and youth that visit the Y during out of school time can all access the same healthy snacks.

“An important part of addressing food insecurity in our area is that we level the playing field and make it possible for all children to have access to healthy foods,” said CEO Whitney Files, in a news release. “There is a stigma that kids can feel when they have to ask for food because their family couldn’t afford to put a snack in their backpack. When we are able to offer all of the children in our after school program the same healthy foods, we are ensuring that everyone gets to eat something nutritious and that no one feels shame for getting free food.”

The Y’s Membership Drive and Healthy Snack Drive for Youth is going on now through Dec 30. In addition to accessing state of the art fitness equipment, pools, group exercise classes, and the climbing wall, members help to ensure that the Y can provide mission-based programs to the community, including early child care, Active Older Adults programs, LiveSTRONG at the YMCA, substance-use prevention, nutrition education programs, and more. 

Everyone is welcome to stop by the Y to bring in items to donate to the Healthy Snack Drive, regardless of whether or not they are an existing member, new members or a caring community member.

For more information and to see the list of requested snacks, contact info@penbayymca.org or visit their website at www.penbayymca.org.