We had the privilege of meeting one of the movers and shakers of the Food for Thought program, run under the auspices of the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council (BRCRC), this past week.

Nancy Van Dyke, who along with Mary Patch, gave us some disturbing numbers; but she also provided us with some positive points about the Food for Thought program.

Van Dyke and Patch, with the help of other volunteers, provide food for children in the region who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend. Each Friday, bags of food are prepared at the St. Andrews Community Health Center and given to families anonymously. With the help of the school system and YMCA administration, these families have been identified as needing food.

Van Dyke said the Food for Thought program currently serves about 46 children, although more than 100 children have been identified as needing this volunteer service. According to an article we published recently, "the cost per child for a weekend's food basket is $6, which pays for peanut butter, canned tuna fish or chicken, cereal, milk fresh fruit and sandwich meat or canned beans."

Van Dyke says two area establishments are providing food for the children, and one person is continually baking bread for these food baskets. But in order for more children to be served, more money and volunteers are needed.

We praise Nancy Van Dyke and Mary Patch and the other volunteers for their time given to this program and those who have contributed food. We encourage others to get involved financially or by volunteering their time.

If you would like to help with Food for Thought, contact Nancy Van Dyke at 207-882-6292, email at takobelle13@hotmail.com, or Mary Patch at 207-633-6359, email at mspatch@roadrunner.com.