At Boothbay Harbor Hannaford in November, St. Philip’s Help Yourself Shelf Food Pantry (HYS), 12 Hodge St., Wiscasset, benefits when people buy reusable shopping bags. The bags are $2.50 each. The Pantry receives $1 for each bag bought. Don’t want any more reusables for oneself? Donate them to the Pantry for attendees’ use. Buyers can be content that they will be helping the Shelf’s mission.

HYS is open each Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for drive-by assistance. For emergencies, people can call the Church office at 882-7647, leaving a message including a phone number, or by messaging the Pantry via its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HelpYourselfShelfFoodPantry/ Someone will be in touch to organize a pick-up.

Thursday, Nov. 18, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Shelf’s Thanksgiving box pick up happens. Whether a patron of the Shelf or not, those needing help providing a Thanksgiving meal are able to come to St. Philip’s for that help.

Calling ahead and leaving a message on the church’s answering machine or contacting us via the Facebook page reserving a box will help us to plan, but if one needs food, please know we’re here for you. There will also be an amended Pantry Thanksgiving week on Wednesday, Nov. 24, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. allowing volunteers to make their own holiday preparations.

Thanks to the wonderful support from Hannaford, Shaw’s, Sarah’s Cafe, Big Al’s, the First Congregational Church, the First Bank of Damariscotta, Wiscasset Rod & Gun Club, the town’s American Legion, and many other businesses, people and groups, HYS is able to provide generous boxes and bags of nutritious supplies each Thursday. 

While the Shelf does not have a regular delivery system, for those needing supplies but unable to come to the Pantry each Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., contact us via phone or messaging, and we will endeavor to see that a solution is created.