Our Impact: Supporting Local Organizations

Annually, the Waterville Area Women’s Club supports a variety of area charities and service agencies that benefit women and children in literacy, food security, mental health, and other concerns.

Hundreds of children and their families every year enjoy “Cassidy’s Corner” — a peaceful, outdoor reading space at Oakland Public Library, established by the ShineOnCass Foundation in memory of Cassidy Charette. WAWC proudly supported this unique project, as well as the creation of the ShineOnCass Lending Library, located at Alfond Youth Community Center in Waterville, to help Shine A Light on childhood literacy.

2024 Donations

In 2024, WAWC granted $20,000 to the following local organizations:

$5,000 to the Waterville Public Library for a new Story Walk path
$2,200 to Camp to Belong Maine to reunite two siblings separated in foster care with a week of summer camp
$1,200 to Woodfords Family Services preschool for a classroom smartboard
$1,000 to the Alfond Youth & Community Center‘s Camp Tracy scholarship fund
$1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships, for its work at Williams Elementary School
$1,000 to the Children’s Discovery Museum of Central Maine towards its new exhibit hall
$1,000 to Mount Merici Academy for fencing for its Cub Care
$1,000 to the Oakland Public Library for children’s programing
$1,000 to the Pine Tree Society’s for its Nature Trail project at Pine Tree Camp for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities
$1,000 to Shine on Cass, which educates, inspires, and empowers youth to make their world a better place through, kindness and volunteer charitable activities
$1,000 to the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, which provides appetizing, nutritious meals in an accessible, welcoming setting
$1,000 to Waterville Creates Youth Arts Fund, which provides youths free access to performances, theatre camps, plays, concerts, art classes, and more
$700 to the Girl Up chapter at Messalonskee High School for its Project Period
$600 to Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec, which helps adults improve reading, writing, and related literacy skills
$500 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility
$300 to Androscoggin Home Healthcare for library items

100 Women Who Give
Additionally, in 2024, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence was awarded $10,000 by 100 Women Who Give, a Waterville Area Women’s Club philanthropic event. Additional donations also were made to Waterville Community Dental Center and Maine Children’s Home for its Journey Program. Learn more about 100 Women Who Give>>

2023 Donations

In 2023, WAWC granted $18,850 to the following local organizations:

$5,000 to the Waterville Public Library for its new Story Walk path
$2,500 to the Children’s Discovery Museum of Central Maine towards its new exhibit hall
$2,000 to the Alfond Youth & Community‘s scholarship fund
$2,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships
$1,750 to Shine on Cass for a farm camp scholarship and to give out books at Oakfest
$1,000 to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter’s women’s support fund
$1,000 to the Pine Tree Society’s Pine Tree Camp for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities towards its open-door policy scholarship
$1,000 to Project Sparrow, a non-profit organization helping children in Maine’s foster care system
$1,000 to the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, which provides appetizing, nutritious meals in an accessible, welcoming setting
$600 to the Oakland Public Library‘s children’s summer reading program
$500 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility

WAWC members tour Woodfords Family Services, a nonprofit committed to the support and inclusion of people with special needs and their families in Maine communities. The club has contributed toward educational resources, therapeutic toys, and adaptive playground equipment for its preschool.

2022 Donations

In 2022, WAWC granted $18,500 to the following local organizations:

$5,000 to the Waterville Public Library for its new Story Walk path
$2,500 to the Children’s Discovery Museum of Central Maine towards its new exhibit hall
$1,500 to the Lawrence Junior & Senior High’s Bulldog Closet for hygiene supplies and clothing for students in need
$1,000 to Camp to Belong Maine, which reunites siblings separated in foster care through a week of summer camp
$1,000 to the Pine Tree Society’s Pine Tree Camp open door policy scholarship, for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities
$1,000 to the Maine Children’s Home Journey Program young parents education program
$1,000 to Woodfords Family Services preschool for educational resources, therapeutic toys, and playground equipment
$1,000 to the ShineOnCass Foundation to support general programming
$1,000 to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter for support of services
$1,000 to Project Sparrow’s Project Gear for material needs of foster kids entering new placements
$1,000 to Waterville Creates for its Youth Arts Access Fund
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility
$500 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$500 to the Oakland Public Library‘s children’s summer reading program

Waterville Public Library’s StoryWalk promotes reading, movement, relationships, outside time, and exploration, and shares new stories semi-regularly. The library’s original StoryWalk launched in 2021 and is located on the North Street Community Connector Trail in Waterville, Maine.

2021 Donations

In 2021, WAWC granted $13,600 to the following local organizations:

$3,000 to the Waterville Public Library
$2,000 to the ShineOnCass Foundation, which educates, inspires, and empowers youth to make their world a better place through, kindness and volunteer charitable activities
$2,000 to Pine Tree Society’s Pine Tree Camp for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities
$1,100 to the Humane Society of Waterville Area, providing a safe haven for animals in need since 1970
$1,000 to the Alfond Youth & Community Center‘s Weekend Meals Backpack Program
$1,000 to Woodfords Family Services preschool for educational resources, therapeutic toys, and playground equipment
$1,000 to Camp to Belong Maine, which reunites siblings separated in foster care through a week of summer camp
$500 to the Oakland Public Library‘s children’s summer reading program
$500 to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility
$500 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$500 to Hardy Girls, which partners with girls and nonbinary youth to ignite curiosity, promote thinking critically, and build coalitions

The ShineOnCass Lending Library is located at Alfond Youth Community Center in Waterville.

2020 Donations

In 2020, WAWC granted $15,500 to the following local organizations:

$2,500 to Kennebec Behavioral Health toward support of homeless teens
$2,000 to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
$2,000 to Northern Lighthouse toward mental health support for youth
$2,000 to the Waterville Public Library for summer and senior crafts
$1,500 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships
$1,000 to the ShineOnCass Foundation, which educates, inspires, and empowers youth to make their world a better place through, kindness and volunteer charitable activities
$1,000 to Woodfords Family Services, a nonprofit committed to the support and inclusion of people with special needs and their families in Maine communities
$500 to Camp to Belong Maine, which reunites siblings separated in foster care through a week of summer camp
$500 to the Oakland Public Library‘s children’s summer reading program
$500 to Project Sparrow, a non-profit organization helping children in Maine’s foster care system
$500 to Quarry Road Trails, a year-round outdoor recreation destination for people of all ages, abilities and walks of life
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility

WAWC members visit the new archery pavilion at Pine Tree Camp in Rome. Established in 1945, every year, hundreds of children and adults with disabilities arrive at Pine Tree Camp’s 285-acre, fully-accessible campus on North Pond and participate in outdoor activities like archery, kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, and more. Full tuition assistance is available, and no camper has ever been turned away due to their ability to pay.

2019 Donations

In 2019, WAWC granted $17,495 to the following local organizations:

$4,405 to Pine Tree Society for a new archery pavilion at Pine Tree Camp
$2,000 to the ShineOnCass Foundation to create Cassidy’s Corner at the Oakland Town Library, a peaceful outdoor garden and storytelling space for local children and families
$2,000 to the Waterville Public Library for its children’s and teens rooms
$1,000 to the Alfond Youth & Community Center‘s Weekend Meals Backpack Program
$1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships
$1,000 to sponsor one camper at Camp to Belong Maine, which reunites siblings separated in foster care through a week of summer camp
$1,000 to Day One, which provides substance use and mental health services to Maine adolescents and their families, for its Teen Substance computer updating
$1,000 to the Kenneth Workman-Belgrade Maine Youth Sports Program for equipment and scholarship
$1,000 to Literacy Volunteers Waterville Area for family books
$1000 to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
$500 to Project Sparrow, a non-profit organization helping children in Maine’s foster care system
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility
$440 to the Oakland Public Library‘s children’s summer reading program
$400 to the Keller Family Campership Program, which provides scholarships to overnight camps for children
$250 to the Family Violence Project for lending library materials

Waterville’s RiverWalk opened in 2018 and features a lighted, 900-foot boardwalk along the Kennebec River, a gazebo, a large interactive children’s play area, art installations and landscaping, including trees and flowers.

WAWC’s bench at Waterville’s RiverWalk at Head of Falls

2018 Donations

In 2018, WAWC granted $15,100 to the following local organizations:

$5,000 to RiverWalk at Head of Falls, to help create a public park in Waterville along the historic Kennebec River
$3,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships
$3,000 to the Waterville Public Library
$500 to the Betsy Ann Ross Home for Female Veterans and Children (Sisters in Arms Center)
$500 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$500 to the Oakland Public Library
$500 to Project Sparrow, a non-profit organization helping children in Maine’s foster care system
$500 to Quarry Road Trails, a year-round outdoor recreation destination for people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life
$500 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility
$500 to the Youth Empowerment Supports (YES) program for young adults at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
$400 to the Keller Family Campership Program, which provides scholarships to overnight camps for children
$200 to Inland Hospital’s Tree of HOPE Perinatal Support Group

Waterville Public Library’s StoryWalk on the North Street Community Connector Trail in Waterville, Maine.

2017 Donations

In 2017, WAWC granted $18,000 to the following local organizations:

$3,000 to Project Sparrow, a non-profit organization helping children in Maine’s foster care system
$3,000 to the Waterville Public Library for the children’s room to replace books lost in a flood
$2,000 to Educare Central Maine, a comprehensive early learning and development school, for transportation for single mothers
$2,000 to Girls on the Run Maine, which empowers girls to build healthy physical and mental habits
$1,500 to Women’s Initiative to help defray costs of increased rent for meeting space
$1,500 to the Waterville Area Food Bank, which works to provide food assistance to our neighbors in need
$1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships
$1,000 to the Family Violence Project, which works to end domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties
$1,000 to Healthy Northern Kennebec
$1,000 to the Kenneth Workman-Belgrade Maine Youth Sports Program youth sports scholarship program
$1,000 to the Youth Empowerment Supports (YES) program for young adults at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter

2016 Donations

$4400 raised for the Family Violence Project

2015 Donations

In 2015, WAWC granted $9,600 to the following local organizations:

$3,000 to the Waterville Area Food Bank toward a van
$1,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine for Cassidy’s Kids
$1,000 to the Family Violence Project for library resources
$1,000 to Friends of Quarry Road Trails
$1,000 to Kennebec Behavioral Health for children’s services
$500 to the Keller Family Campership Program, which provides scholarships to overnight camps for children
$500 to Winslow Travel Soccer
$400 to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
$400 to the Maine Children’s Home, which offers programs that build and strengthen families and their children
$200 to Sunset Home of Waterville, a non-profit assisted living facility
$100 to Mount Merici Academy Science Lab

How to apply for a donation>>