ROCKLAND—The Maine Lobster Festival’s Board of Directors gave financial support in June to local nonprofits that included Trekkers youth mentoring program, Sixty-Three Washington Street residential care facility, and the motorcycle Torch Ride for Special Olympics.

The Lobster Festival donated $750 to Trekkers, $500 to Sixty-Three Washington Street and $250 to the Torch Ride.

Trekkers is a nonprofit, outdoor based mentoring program that connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure based education.

Trekkers provides age related programs for grades 7 through 12. In addition, Trekkers operates four peripheral programs including From the Hood to the Woods. For more than seven years in a row, "From the Hood to the Woods" offers one trip a year where students from their sister organization (Urban Trekkers located in Camden, New Jersey) come to Maine for a cultural awareness expedition. Students participate in activities that promote diversity acceptance and awareness. Trekkers offers this program to high school Trekkers.

Sixty-Three Washington Street is a community based nonprofit, residential care facility, established in 1983 in Camden, licensed by the State of Maine for a maximum of six residents. This facility has been in operation as a home for seniors since 1898 under various names. The Board of Directors, representing local churches, oversee the operation of the home.

“Sixty-Three Washington Street is an important and necessary part of our community and has performed exemplary service to this community and to its many residents over the years,” according to a news release from the Lobster Festival.

The Maine Lobster Festival contributed $500 this year, to help replace the sewer line for Sixty-Three Washington Street. Accepting the check, at the June 23 Lobster Festival meeting, was Teri Willey, the administrator for Sixty-Three Washington Street. Presenting the donation was Maine Lobster Festival President, Brian Plourde.

The Torch Ride is an annual motorcycle ride to benefit Special Olympics Maine and 2015 marks the 6th annual ride. This ride takes motorcyclists and Special Olympics of Maine athletes roundtrip from Owls Head to Augusta for an auction, BBQ and live band.

This year, the Maine Lobster Festival donated $250 to this fun and worthy event. Accepting for Touch Ride was Larry Hesseltine, seen with Lobster Festival director, Sharon Lombardo at the MLF Board of Directors meeting on June 23.

The Maine Lobster Festival attracts thousands of people to Maine’s Midcoast region, and has a long tradition of giving back to the local community.

In recent years, the Festival committee has given more than $500,000 to the local community through support for Midcoast Regional Child Development Services, Trekkers, Meals on Wheels, and much more. For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, visit mainelobsterfestival.com