Welcome to Mission Moment, a series from CEO Amy Vendt where she highlights moments from around the Bath Area Family YMCA that exemplify our association’s commitment to our mission of promoting the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
One of the things I love most about the YMCA is that our mission doesn’t end at the doors of our buildings. It reaches into neighborhoods, schools, parks, and homes throughout our community. There may be no better example of that than our Summer Food Program.
When school lets out, many children lose access to the breakfasts and lunches they rely on each day. For far too many families, summer can become one of the most difficult times of the year. That’s why this program is so important to me. It’s not just about providing food. It’s about making sure every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and enjoy summer without the burden of hunger.
This summer alone, the YMCA will provide more than 4,000 meals through our Summer Food Service Program. We serve breakfast and lunch at 14 locations throughout Bath and Brunswick, while also supporting campers, summer school students, and families through our mobile meal routes.
At the heart of this incredible effort is Jenn Connelie, our Food Program Coordinator. While many people see the brightly colored Veggie Van making its way through our communities, what they don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes. Jenn spends countless hours planning delivery routes, coordinating volunteers, procuring food, packing hundreds of meals, ensuring state requirements are met, and making sure every child is served with care and dignity. It’s an incredibly complex operation, and she leads it with compassion, organization, and an unwavering commitment to the families we serve.
Of course, no program like this happens alone.
Every week, volunteers give their time to make these deliveries possible. One of those volunteers is Jeff Peavey, a member of our Board of Directors. Jeff has been part of the program since its early days and, together with his wife Judy, continues to deliver meals to families throughout Bath.
Jeff recently shared what keeps him coming back:
“When I retired eight years ago, I wanted to devote more of my time to community service. So the first thing I did was join the Y board. The Y had started summer food delivery for area kids who were not getting their school lunches in the summer. I was brought on as a driver. The following year, we partnered with the Bath Area Backpack Program to deliver groceries to families of school children around the greater Bath Area. The program has grown tremendously since then. We now deliver hundreds of lunches and breakfasts to kids every week all summer long in both the Bath and Brunswick area.
My wife Judy and I do one of the Bath routes together, and it is nice to see the faces of the kids that we deliver groceries to during the school year coming to the Veggie Van for lunches in the summer and knowing that they are getting food that they need all year round.”
I love that perspective because it reminds us that this isn’t simply a summer program. It’s part of a year-round commitment to caring for our neighbors. From our Veggie Van and grocery deliveries to our food pantries and after-school meal programs, we’re building relationships with families and helping ensure children have access to healthy food every season of the year.
As CEO, I couldn’t be prouder of this team and the many volunteers who make this work possible. Every meal packed, every route driven, and every smile shared reflects what the YMCA is all about.
Because when we strengthen a child, support a family, and care for our neighbors, we’re living our mission every single day.
– Amy
Amy Vendt
Chief Executive Officer
Bath Area Family YMCA
