Food pantries stretched thin as need increases over winter

The winter months are always busy ones at food pantries in Washington County and the Charlotte County island communities. The poor economy and cold weather have caused almost all of the food banks to serve more clients than in past winters, and a few are desperate for some financial assistance.

Whiting
The Whiting Community Food Pantry is managed by Bill and Ann Sawtelle, who say they are just getting by. "It's been a very hard winter," points out Bill Sawtelle. "It's been hard to raise money. The last three times we've advertised that there's going to be a bottle drive, another group had had one the day before, and people gave them their cans and bottles because they thought it was for us."
"The last time we had a bottle drive, I sat there for five hours for $3," he adds.
Despite the difficulties of raising money for the community food bank, which serves 12 towns, Sawtelle says, "We've fed everybody who has come through. When they come in, they have a nice meal and a wonderful time."
Anyone wishing to help the Whiting Community Food Pantry financially can send a donation to Bill Sawtelle, c/o Whiting Community Food Bank, 340 U.S. Rt. 1, Dennysville, ME 04628, or send a check in his name to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. The food pantry feeds people on the third Wednesday of the month from 12 noon until 7 p.m. in the Three Angels Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Whiting.

Woodland
Durwood and Tonya Scott run the Woodland Food Pantry in Baileyville, and she reports, "It's doing okay" this winter. "We've seen an increase in the number of people coming in once a month. We have 100 folks who use us, but people have really been good about sending in donations. Over the holidays, schools and businesses helped us out, and so did several churches."
"We have lots of volunteers, and we have a very supportive community," adds Scott. "If they know there's a need, they are really good about opening their hearts and wallets."
The Woodland Food Bank is located on 5 Broadway and is open on the first and last Thursday of the month from 9 to 11 a.m. Financial donations may be mailed to the Woodland Food Bank, P.O. Box 706, Baileyville, ME 04694.

Pleasant Point
Mary Lou Barnes of the St. Ann's Passamaquoddy Food Pantry says, "We're holding our own."
The food pantry has been serving between 30 and 40 families a month, which is about 60 to 70 individuals. "It picked up a bit more in February because of the cold weather; [people's] money was going elsewhere."
Unexpected financial assistance has helped St. Ann's feed clients this winter. Monetary gifts to the Good Shepherd Food Bank were distributed to several Maine food pantries, including the one at Pleasant Point. "We also got money at Christmastime from Maine Indian Education, and we used some of it for food," reports Barnes. "Hannaford Brothers gave us gift cards, and we received money from the Maine Community Foundation that has helped buy meats and non-food items. Anything we receive from the WHCA [Washington Hancock Community Agency] has to be spent on food, so it's nice to get money to buy toilet paper and shampoo. ... So we're actually doing pretty good."
Financial donations may be mailed to St. Ann's Food Pantry, Rt. 190, Perry, ME 04667.

Grand Manan
The Grand Manan Food Bank, sponsored by Action Ministries, is located in the Pentecostal Assembly basement and is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m. Donations may be dropped off during the open hours or by calling Tammy Brown at 662-3115, Marilyn Cary at 662-3323 or Janet Collins at 662-1888.
Both Brown and Collins agree that the island food bank is busier this winter. "We had seven come in one day in February," points out Brown. "That's a large number for us."
"A typical February day for us is three to four people," says Collins.
The women say that over 60 food boxes were made up over Christmas, compared to 30 to 40 in past years. The new people are almost evenly made up of families and singles or couples with no children.
"We're seeing more senior citizens," reports Brown. "We know some are falling through the cracks, so we try to bring them in on off hours so they can choose what they want without people seeing them."
The shelves of the pantry are full, volunteers have been dedicated, and there has been support from a local youth group, the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Kraft Hunger Challenge and Harbour Lights.
However, the food bank is "always looking for donations," says Collins, and financial contributions may be sent to Action Ministries, c/o Tammy Brown, 70 Red Point Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4J2.

Machias
Machias Food Pantry Director Helen Vose says she is serving "many, many clients" this winter. "We have over 300 families a month. That's about 580 individuals."
"There isn't a shortage of food, but there's not a lot of food," she reports. "We have to pay Good Shepherd [Food Bank] for food, and donations to us are down because the economy is just terrible. I had been also doing fuel [assistance], but stopped because we're out of funds for that. I've had seven calls about that today that I've had to refuse, and there's a list a mile long."
Fortunately, the Machias Food Pantry, which is open on Tuesdays and Fridays, does not lack volunteers, "and we're strategically shopping," says Vose. "That's the way it is right now."
Financial assistance may be mailed to the Machias Food Pantry, P.O. Box 265, Machias, ME 04654. Located in the Centre Street Congregational Church, it is open Thursdays and Mondays, except holidays, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.

Deer Island
Joyce Stuart heads Deer Island's food bank, part of the island's Safety Net, which also provides residents with fuel and medication. "We're doing pretty good. We aren't as busy as we thought we'd be after the flooding in December. It's fairly quiet."
Six or seven families have been assisted by the food bank this winter, and deliveries are made by Pastor Maurice Hatfield and Joel Bridges. Financial donations may be mailed to the Deer Island Food Bank, c/o Joyce Stuart, 30 Richardson Rd., Richardson, NB E5V 1S5.

Calais area
Carmela Walton of the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry in Calais says, "We're doing okay. Donations are good. Volunteers are good. I have no complaints."
She estimates that the food pantry is feeding 600 people from Calais, Charlotte, Perry, Robbinston, Baring, Alexander and Crawford. "That's about the same number as usual. However, we have had eight people coming in from Woodland. I give them food the first time, but I tell them it's out of my hands. They're out of my district and need to get food from their own food pantry."
"The community has been very good to us," points out Walton. "We appreciate all of the help and donations."
Anyone wishing to help out financially should mail their checks to the Irene Chadbourne Food Pantry, c/o Carmela Walton, 705 Main St., Princeton, ME 04668.

Campobello Island
Over on Campobello, the food bank is located in the St. Anne's Anglican Church basement, and it has no set time when it is open. Food is delivered as needed, and three families a month are currently needing help.
"Things are running smoothly," reports Rev. Robert Weaver. "The Lord has blessed us."
Anyone needing assistance or wanting to make a financial donation should contact Rev. Weaver at 752-2578 or Rev. Brenda McKnight at 752-2001.

Eastport
The Labor of Love Food Pantry in Eastport is open for regular food distribution on the second and third Tuesdays of the month from 9 to 11 a.m., and director Fern Garrapy reports it has been busy this winter. "We have eight new people. That's about 190 individuals or 50 or 60 families. A lot of them are elderly."
"Word has gotten around that they can come in and get $120 worth of food," she points out.
The food pantry can use some extra boxes of staples such as powdered mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and baked beans. "We used to have marshmallow and jelly, and people liked that," points out Garrapy.
Financial donations may be mailed to the Labor of Love Food Pantry, c/o Fern Garrapy, 9 Janney St., Eastport, ME 04631.