Food pantries in Washington and Charlotte counties are holding their own as they enter the tough months of the winter, but it wouldn't be so without the help of many, pantry coordinators say. Food pantries often provide a number of services besides access to food, including fuel funds, warm clothing programs and Christmas gifts for children. However, it is the food programs that are the mainstay for those who are struggling financially to make ends meet.
      The lack of food for people when they need it most is no small matter. The Good Shepherd Food Bank serves the state of Maine and has supplied partner agencies in Washington County over the past 12 months with 760,000 pounds of food. Good Shepherd Communications and Advocacy Manager Clara Whitney explains, "This is the equivalent of approximately 630,000 meals." Seen in another way, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" research, the meal gap in Washington County each year is now at 1,013,468 meals. The number has been increasing every year. In 2008, Good Shepherd supplied 301,000 pounds of food, and in 2011 it supplied 589,000 pounds.
     All the food distribution takes preparatory work before clients arrive to take it home, and this is where volunteers are most important to the success of the pantries' operations. Ann Sawtelle, coordinator of the Whiting Community Food Pantry, which serves the greater Lubec area, says that the churches in Lubec are "very devoted to helping every month." She adds, "And there are local people who bring by boxes of food." They also send in donations. "We truly are a community food pantry."
     Volunteers make it work. At the Whiting pantry, Sawtelle will see a regular group of 25 volunteers who can be counted on for regular help on the pantry's once‑a‑month open day when the pantry serves on average 170 families. Overall, there are about 50 volunteers, not including students from area schools who come to help out boxing up food and preparing and serving meals from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The number of families is up slightly from last year, says Sawtelle.
     In Eastport the Labor of Love Nutrition Center and Food Pantry has seen numbers increasing every year and is now at 250 families representing 750 people. About 25 volunteers keep operations running smoothly, from stocking the shelves, boxing up food, working on the community garden out front and conducting cooking and food preservation classes. This year the pantry will be making 250 Christmas baskets for pantry families. "They run about $28 a basket" in costs, says Colin Windhorst, board president of the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association. "It's a sizeable amount of money, so what doesn't come in as donations of food has to be purchased."
      The Passamaquoddy tribal food pantry "serves just about everyone on the reservation," says coordinator Julie Mitchell. "The food quantity is good." While the pantry used to have specific days that it was open, Mitchell says that it is now open at the tribal building during regular hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, Mitchell may be reached at the tribal office at 207‑853‑2600.
       Over in Calais, Arthur Carter of the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry says about 40 volunteers help keep the pantry operating smoothly during open hours three days a week and help behind the scenes writing grants, picking up food and other tasks. The number of families has doubled to 600 from last year. He explains that families are having a tough time. "Basically the amount of discretionary funds is way down." The pantry has also expanded its service area, which accounts for some of the increase in numbers. The pantry will be assembling and distributing Christmas baskets at the pantry on Tuesday, December 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
      Good Shepherd Food Bank supplies much of the food to most pantries located in Washington County, but it is supplemented by donations from community members and others. Carter notes that the Calais Shop 'n Save and Walmart donate food to the Calais pantry, including frozen meat, baked goods and sometimes a big box of eggs that might have been mislabeled. "The donations are keeping us solvent," he says. The pantry supplies food three days a week but also provides backpacks of food for 76 children at area schools to take home for the weekend. "That food strictly comes from donations," he says. The pantry recently finished an addition to its facility for storage and food display. They're trying to finish it up but are still fundraising for a fire suppression system. The price tag of $32,500 still has about $15,000 to go in needed funding.
     In Machias, the Centre Street Food Pantry has seen over 700 families register for the pantry's services, up by 200 from last year. Seven volunteers keep the pantry running for its weekly open day. "We're OK with the food supply, thanks to the community," says coordinator Ken Varian. "The need continues to increase," he adds. The pantry will host a Christmas dinner on December 25 at 1 p.m. for anyone "who would like company and a good meal."

Charlotte County pantries see slight decline
     Unlike their Washington County counterparts, the Deer Island, Campobello Island and Grand Manan food banks have seen a slight decline in use. Joyce Stuart works with about 11 other volunteers at the Deer Island food bank and says the patron number is down. "It's less than last year because a lot of people have moved out west. It's sad, but they have to go where the work is."
     On Grand Manan, the economy has picked up a little bit, says Janet Ingersoll, who works with about eight regular volunteers and a cadre of others to keep the food bank running smoothly. On Campobello, Sally Newman reports there are about 35 people using the food bank with the help of just a few volunteers, including a student from the St. Andrews community college who has been working at the food bank every Friday.
      The three food banks have been keeping up with need thanks to the support of community members, and for some, the support of the New Brunswick Food Bank Association and the Canadian Food Bank Association. "It's not on a regular basis," says Ingersoll of the association support, but it is very welcome when it arrives. In addition, an annual Harbour Lights Campaign installs a giant Christmas tree in Saint John to raise funds for food banks from Sussex to St. Stephen. Ingersoll reports that last year the fundraising effort resulted in a donation of $4,000 to the Grand Manan Food Bank.
     "Scotia Bank has done fundraising for us, and the girls at the bank do shopping for us and stock the shelves," says Ingersoll. "It's wonderful to see." The food bank is in the midst of its Christmas food boxes campaign, which include a turkey and all the fixings, and those will go out on December 20. The food bank, under the auspices of Action Ministries, has a mission to look after widows and children. About 468 adults and 238 children use the service. While the pantry is open for two afternoons every week, "we encourage people to come just once a month, but in emergencies they are welcome to come more," says Ingersoll. "People on the island are very generous, very helpful."
      The Campobello Food Bank is also assembling Christmas boxes, about 25 for this year. "We're doing really well with our food needs," says Newman. The community has been very supportive. A gospel sing‑along and a fishermen's challenge raised $2,000, and a children's trick‑or‑eat event garnered 1,000 pounds of food. A holiday raffle is under way that has raised $300 so far.
     Stuart reports that the Deer Island Food Bank is assembling Christmas hampers to go out Wednesday, December 17, with donated turkeys from Paturel International and chocolates from Ganong Bros. "It's wonderful," she says. "Different people call to see what's needed and donate funds as well."
Locations and contacts
     The Campobello Food Bank is located at the community building by the fire department on Bunkerhill Cross Road. Starting in January, hours will Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Sally Newman at 207‑271‑3563 for more information. For more information about the Deer Island Food Bank, call Joyce Stuart at 506‑747‑2053 or Dawn Stuart at 506‑747‑2086. The Grand Manan Food Bank is located at the Action Ministries Pentecostal Assembly basement with the entrance at the left side of the door. Hours are every Tuesday and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call Janet Ingersoll at 506‑662‑3286.
     The Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry is located at 513 Main Street in Calais, and is open weekly on Mondays from 3 to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with distribution of perishable food only on Fridays. For more information, call Len Hanson at 207‑214‑8553.
      The Labor of Love Nutrition Center and Food Pantry is located at 137 County Road in Eastport and is open for food distribution as follows: Regular food pantry distribution is on the second and third Tuesday of the month, from 9 to 11 a.m.; emergency food is available on the first, fourth and fifth Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, or when the Eastport City Hall or a pastor calls to say there is a crisis that needs to be addressed immediately. In addition, the pantry serves as the site for the senior commodities distribution on the first Tuesday after the first Monday. For more information, call Fern Garrapy at 853‑0812.
      The Whiting Community Food Pantry is located at the Three Angels Seventh Day Adventist Church at 960 Route 1 in Whiting and is open the third Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Ann Sawtelle at 207‑726‑4722. The Centre Street Food Pantry is located at 9 Center Street in Machias and is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; however, the schedule will be changing. For more information, contact Ken Varian at 207‑255‑6665.