Armand Souliere with his younger brother, Mikel, and Star Harris prepare to work in the community garden at Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center in Biddeford. The center received funding from the York County Children's Aid Society Fund to increase offerings for youth ages 11-18. Photo by Shay Stewart-Bouley
At its first meeting on December 12, 1910, the York County Children’s Aid Society voted to take three Kittery children into their care if the town would pay $1.50 per week for their board. The society also elected an Executive Committee. The goal of the society was to help “neglected, abused, destitute and wayward children, and to surround them with influences that would contribute to their moral and physical well-being.”
In subsequent years, the society sponsored dental and eye care, room and board, necessities (clothes, shoes, toothbrushes, milk), and entertainment for York County children. They kept detailed records of the items provided to each child (e.g., rubbers and leggings, $2.47; toothbrush, $.35; bloomers, $3.98). Initially, their work was county-wide; in later years, it appears they worked primarily in the greater Saco/Biddeford area. Contributions to the fund were made by York County residents.
In November 1991, the York County Children’s Aid Society was transferred to the Maine Community Foundation. Since that time, the fund has awarded 254 grants totaling $664,102 to nonprofits serving York County youth. Members of the York County Committee review applications and make grant recommendations.
2010 grants from the YCCA Fund
- Center for Grieving Children, to expand services in York County
- Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center, to increase programmatic offerings for youth ages 11-18
- University of Southern Maine, for the York County Foster Care Collaborative
- The Community Bicycle Center, in support of the summer program for under-resourced youth
December 14, 2010