The Bridgton Hospital Guild is reassessing its future.

The Guild is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting the capital needs of Bridgton Hospital. It also provides college scholarships to local high school seniors entering the fields associated with health care. It is a 100% volunteer organization, whose efforts have provided over a million dollars in its history to fund equipment needs for all departments such as surgery, ER, obstetrics, pediatrics, physical therapy, “swing bed” and patient rooms. It is estimated that over 200 students have benefitted from Guild scholarships. 

The Guild operates two businesses that contribute their entire net proceeds to fund its mission. 

The Guild Thrift Shop has been a mainstay retail store on Main Street in Bridgton since 1994. It offers gently-used clothing and small housewares at low prices. 

The Twitchell Campus Café, also known as the Guild coffee shop, is located at the “old” hospital building next to the pediatric, specialty, and physical therapy practices. It offers breakfast and lunch at very reasonable prices to BH staff and the public.

In the last few years, both businesses have struggled with adequate staffing in order to keep their doors open on a consistent basis. Volunteerism, in general, across all charitable and other nonprofit organizations, has declined. As a result, the Guild, like other such organizations, is operating with fewer, and older volunteers. Studies have shown that economic and cultural changes in our society have led to this decline. Most households today are two-income families, reducing the time to volunteer during the daytime. The expansion of government services has also led to the perception that charitable organizations are no longer needed. 

The Guild is not immune to these changes and societal trends. As a result, the Board of Directors is evaluating its future. When asked, many members of the community express appreciation for the Thrift Shop. They feel that it provides a needed low-priced retail clothing outlet to the community at large. It is also an iconic presence on Main Street for returning visitors and seasonal residents. Similarly, the Café has many loyal customers, especially seniors who enjoy fellowship, good food and low prices in a cheerful atmosphere.

The lack of new volunteers is jeopardizing the future of the Guild. Without community help, both businesses are prone to uneven business hours. That lack of consistency eventually leads to lost customers and lower profits. As a result, the Guild’s Board of Directors has decided to study its viability over the next six months. During that time, the Guild will reach out to the community to reinforce its volunteer staffing. Without new staffing prospects, the Guild will be forced to reevaluate its value to the hospital and the community.