As always, there are many people to thank for their donations to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry – but first, the news.

At present, the pantry serves about 250 families in the towns of Edgecomb, Southport, Boothbay, and Boothbay Harbor. Family sizes range from one person to six or more people, for a total of about 1,000 residents of the region currently in need of food assistance.

The pantry relies entirely on the generosity of year-round and seasonal residents and of local organizations and businesses, with the occasional grant for special projects. One way to support it is to contribute food (canned or boxed goods within sell-by date or nearly so) or gifts of money to help fill the pantry shelves. Such gifts are welcome anytime. Place food items in the large container located outside the food pantry door or mail checks payable to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry to P.O. Box 63, East Boothbay, ME 04544. Another way to help is to become a pantry volunteer. Volunteers are needed at Friday and Monday open hours. If interested, please call pantry director Richard Annino at 315-2002.

Recently, two notable contributions came from Boothbay region schools for the second year in a row. The high school collected nearly $500 for the pantry from people attending a recent basketball game, and elementary school teacher Judy Dorr organized a penny collection that collected $1,270.

A fine opportunity for you to deliver food or a check is coming up on Souper Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5. Pantry directors will be on hand at the food pantry from noon to 2:00 p.m. that day to accept your donations. The pantry is located on the ground floor of the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor and is easily accessible from the church’s lower parking lot on Eastern Avenue.

Most other churches in the region will also be accepting food or monetary contributions at their services on Souper Bowl Sunday. Volunteers from those churches will collect and deliver contributions to the Congo church, where they will be weighed and counted. Watch in these pages for the announcement of the grand total of food and funds received for the food pantry on Souper Bowl Sunday.

The directors of the Boothby Region Food Pantry would like to express their gratitude for the ongoing support of the community. The amount of food and checks given during the month of December was inspiring. There were many gifts made in honor or in memory of particular people. Local businesses and civic organizations, bridge clubs, high school groups and many individuals contributed food and sent checks. Restaurants closing for the season delivered their leftover fresh and frozen food to help stem hunger in the region. The pantry – and its clients – thank all of you for your often stunning generosity.

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 2:00 p.m. and is accessible to people in wheelchairs. If local schools are closed because of weather conditions, the pantry also is closed. The food pantry is also open on the second Monday of each month from 4:30 to 6:00 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.

The Good Shepherd Food Bank’s food truck will be in the upper parking lot of the Congregational Church on Thursday, Feb. 2 from 1 to 2 p.m., on Thursday, March 2 from noon to 1:30 p.m., and on Thursday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The food mobile’s food is free to anyone in need of food assistance. Don’t forget to bring bags and boxes to carry your selections.