Leaders of the YMCA of Southern Maine say branch memberships dropped by more than two-thirds during the pandemic.
| Gillian Graham, Press Herald |
The YMCA of Southern Maine will close its Pineland Branch in New Gloucester on Sept. 2, following a steep decline in memberships during the pandemic.
But the closing will not result in any layoffs, said Helen Breña, president and CEO.
Breña said the Y will offer members who used the Pineland Branch programs that are virtual or at partner locations, but has not yet determined yet where to offer services such as after-school care.
“The pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the YMCA to support our community,” Breña said.
The YMCA opened the Pineland Branch in 2003 and offered a range of amenities and programs, including a gym, pool, bowling alley, day camp and before- and after-school care. The pool never reopened after the pandemic shutdown and Pineland didn’t have a summer camp this summer.
The branch is located at Pineland Farms, a 5,000-acre working farm with a campus that includes businesses and educational programming.
The YMCA’s locations in Portland, Biddeford, Freeport and New Gloucester closed for three and a half months at the beginning of the pandemic. During that time, staff continued to work, connecting with members and the outside community by doing things like delivering meals and calling members who were feeling isolated, Breña said.
But the closures led to a decline in memberships across all of YMCA of Southern Maine’s locations. The Pineland Branch was hit particularly hard, with membership plummeting from about 2,200 pre-pandemic to just over 650 now – about 31 percent of its previous membership. Other locations have seen drops, too, but have retained 50 percent or more of their old memberships, Breña said.
