Last year, the Clinton YMCA was among a small handful of community groups to try to make up for the cancellation of the Apple n' Pork Festival and looks forward to the return of the full in-person event this year.

Executive Director Rennie Cluver told Regional Radio on the WHOW Morning Show Monday not having an event in 2020 was tough on their finances. He indicates it's going to be an important year of Apple n' Pork because of an upward trend in the Y.

According to Cluver, the YMCA rarely earmarks the funds from Apple n' Pork for specific purposes. He explains it goes into a general fund that does a variety of things for them and is an immense help in yearly budgeting.

Budgeting for the upcoming year will begin soon and Cluver indicates after membership dues and program fees, the Y needs to raise around $150,000 a year.

Cluver indicates the Y does in two days of fundraising what would take several other events throughout the course of the year. He also enjoys seeing everyone that supports the YMCA throughout the course of the year and makes a point to stop by its booth on the Homestead grounds.

Cluver indicates one thing the Y will have to deal with, like many other local non-profits, is sharing volunteers who will be doing work for other groups on the grounds of the homestead and in other parts of the community. 

The YMCA will be serving pork cutlet sandwiches again in 2021.