The YWCA of Central Maine is thriving. It’s a terrific place for the agency to be when, just five years ago, it was struggling to stay open. The struggle was so great, the agency went through five directors in six years and had to dig out from under a weighty $200,000 debt.

The sheer determination of the all-volunteer board of directors and the dedicated staffers has brought new life to the Y and we congratulate them on their efforts.

Although originally organized to improve the lives of girls, the Y in Lewiston offers programs for all ages and all genders. It has an active child care and summer camp program and the pool is almost never empty during the day as school teams host practices and parents watch their little ones take swim lessons.

Although the building is aging, efforts are being made to get it in shape, including a much-needed recent repair of the shower facilities in the women’s locker room and a fresh coat of paint there.

On Monday, the Y will close its pool for annual maintenance. It’ll re-open in September with a new schedule for lessons and membership swims. There will also be new schedules for fall child care and other activities, and we anticipate new after-school programs for teenage girls as well as other efforts of community outreach.

We urge the community, which may have long overlooked the Y, to take another look. It’s a well-run, cozy and important community resource that deserves our support.