Unfortunately, the steadily rising number of families in need of food assistance in the Boothbay region is outpacing funds and supplies available to fill the food pantry’s shelves.

In April alone, food pantry expenses were nearly twice as great as donations, with the result that the pantry’s available funds had decreased by $4,000 by the end of the month.

In their May meeting, the food pantry’s directors voted reluctantly to cut in half the number of vouchers received monthly by client families for the purchase of bread and dairy products at Hannaford.

The reduction from two to one voucher monthly will begin in June and last until September or beyond, depending upon the pantry’s financial situation next fall.

The U.S. Postal Service food drive was held on May 11 and was highly successful. The pantry directors are grateful, both to the postal workers and to all the people who donated food to help their neighbors in need. Thank you!

During the month of April, the pantry gave food assistance to 102 families in the Boothbay region, representing a total of 250 family members, many of them young children. That’s a weekly average of 25.5 families and 62.5 family members, a slight increase over the numbers served in April 2012.

Items needed particularly to refill the pantry shelves are: coffee, tea, large cans or bottles of juice, cereal and dessert mixes. Monetary donations, always welcome, may be sent to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry at P.O. Box 63, East Boothbay, ME 04544. If you wish to donate perishable food items, please call Fleet Davies (207-350-4077) or Sue Landemare (207-633-6884) to make arrangements for delivery and prompt refrigeration.

If you are a gardener, please consider planting a row of lettuce and/or vegetables for food pantry clients. When your crop comes in, deliver what you wish to share to the pantry on Friday mornings or call one of the numbers listed below to arrange for your donations to be received and refrigerated. Many thanks in advance.

Information for clients

The Boothbay Region Food Pantry is located in the lower level of the Congregational Church at 1 Eastern Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. The pantry is open each Friday from noon to 2 p.m., and clients wishing to pick up food from the tables supplied weekly by Hannaford’s may begin to do so at 1:30.

If you can’t make it to regular open hours or if you have a food emergency, call the church at 207-633-4757 during normal office hours or, at other times, call Fleet Davies at 207-350-4077 or Tom Wilson at 207-633-4952.

The pantry serves the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb. New clients should provide proof of residency, such as a recent utility bill, lease or rent receipt.