The Boothbay Region Food Pantry is pleased to announce resumption of its voucher program that will enable clients to have increased access to fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables during the coming summer months. Comparable programs carried out in previous years have been popular and successful from the point of view of both pantry clients and vendors.

Beginning in June, vouchers worth $10 will be distributed to pantry clients according to the size of their family.  Each voucher may be used to purchase fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables in Boothbay Harbor at Hannaford or at Brown’s food stand from June 1 to September 30 of this year. All vouchers will be mailed to pantry clients during the first week in June.

In other news, two annual collections recently delivered large quantities of food to the pantry’s shelves.   The pantry’s directors and volunteers would like to express their gratitude to the community for its ongoing and very generous contributions to these food drives. The collection recently organized by local post offices provided 1,002 pounds of canned and boxed goods, and the YMCA’s Fill the Bus event collected 304 pounds, as well as about $100 in cash. All food received will be distributed to people in our region who need help in putting nourishing food on their family’s dining tables.

Would you like to help?  In addition to donating food and funds, you may wish to join our cadre of volunteers.  Each Friday, a volunteer is on hand from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help the pantry directors prepare for, distribute, and tidy up after the pantry’s Friday open hours.  If you would like to join us, please call the food pantry telephone at 207-350-2962. Leave a message, including your telephone number or email address, and our volunteer coordinator will get in touch with you promptly. Many thanks!   

The food pantry welcomes donations of nutritious boxed and canned goods that are within or not far past their sell-by dates. These may be left in the large container located outside the food pantry door in the church’s lower parking lot or in the smaller container inside the pantry. Checks also are welcome. They should be made out to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry and sent to P.O. Box 63, East Boothbay, ME 04544. 

Information for clients

The Boothbay Region Food Pantry is located in the lower level of the Congregational Church at 125 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor.  It is open every Friday from noon to 2 p.m. and is accessible to people in wheelchairs. The food pantry is also open on the second Monday of each month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. If you have a food emergency, call the food pantry’s telephone number:  207-350-2962.

The pantry serves residents in the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb. New clients should provide proof of residency, such as your car registration, a recent utility bill, lease or rent receipt. Clients should bring their own bags and boxes.