The Dempsey Center will move to a new home in the same building as Central Maine Healthcare’s Cancer Care Center at 17 High St. later this month, according to a news release issued Wednesday.
Though the move is into another Central Maine Healthcare building, the Dempsey Center remains independent of Central Maine Healthcare.
The Dempsey Center is located in a Central Maine Healthcare building listed for sale at 29 Lowell St. The center will start accepting new patients at the space on High Street on Sept. 29. The last day clients will be seen at the Lowell Street location is Sept. 11.
Since the center returned to normal operations after the COVID-19 pandemic it has not resumed the same amount of in-person programming, but virtual attendance has remained steady, according to the news release.
All Dempsey Center services will continue to be available to anyone, not just Central Maine patients, and will remain at no cost to patients, according to the news release. Those services include counseling, nutrition support, movement and fitness classes, support groups, massage, acupuncture, and Reiki, along with other wellness services.
Dempsey Center patients will also have the option of attending classes and group services offered at the High Street location through the YMCA, according to the news release.
The Dempsey Center announced last spring that it was looking for a new location and reiterated its commitment to retain its physical presence in the Lewiston area.
“The Dempsey Center is grateful for the support and effort of both Central Maine Healthcare and the YMCA and also acknowledges and appreciates the offers and inquiries it received for potential lease space from other members of the L-A community,” the news release states.
Actor Patrick Dempsey, who was born in Lewiston, founded the center in 2008 after his mother’s experience with cancer and seeing how wellness services she received helped her. He wanted to bring those services to Maine for residents to access at no cost.
Since then, the center has expanded its wellness services, recently opening in the new medical building at Rock Row in Westbrook. It also operates Clayton’s House in Portland, which provides a house for patients to stay who are traveling to southern Maine for treatment.
“The Dempsey Center is proud to join forces with two like-minded nonprofit partners to create a new space for supportive cancer care in the greater Lewiston community and beyond,” Dempsey Center CEO and President Brandon Hotham said in the news release.
“Collaboration among nonprofits is at the heart of community impact and more important now than ever,” he said. “By working together, we can reach more people, expand access to services and strengthen the support network so many rely on. This partnership affirms our belief that collective effort drives lasting change and we are excited to continue our 17-year presence in Lewiston alongside these valued partners.”
For more information on how to access services call 877-336-7287, email [email protected] or visit the website at dempseycenter.org.
