The Gorham Food Pantry was thrilled to receive a generous $5,000 grant from Bangor Savings Bank. The funds will allow the pantry to build a new, energy-efficient walk-in freezer, which will replace several older, side-by-side models. Not only will this provide more display space and shelving for items needed by clients, it will also cut electricity costs.
The Gorham Food Pantry has been operating for over 25 years, currently serving approximately 100 families each month as rising food prices make it even more difficult for households to feed their families. Gorham Pantry was founded and is sustained by the efforts of many local churches, schools, businesses, generous donors and several active organizations.
The food pantry, located in St. Anne’s parking lot, is open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon to serve Gorham residents with supplemental food needs. The pantry also has a supply of free books for kids and a stock of school supplies in September and a supply of locally grown veggies donated by local gardens, including the garden at the Gorham Middle School.
Food is collected at Gorham’s libraries, the Public Safety Building, and Third Space Market. The food pantry is also ecologically sensitive to not producing waste. Perishable food past its prime is collected by a local farmer to feed his pigs during the warmer months.
The pantry is run by a Board of Directors and many dedicated volunteers and generous financial supporters. If you would like to get involved, the pantry is looking for volunteer van drivers who, using the food pantry van, can pick up items from Hannaford in Gorham and Scarborough and also from the Wayside Food Programs in Portland and deliver them to the food bank. Drivers must have a clean driving record and be able to lift 50 pounds. Shifts are available and usually require only one or two days per month.
The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday mornings:
Route 1 from 6 to 8:30 a.m. Hannaford Scarborough & Gorham
Route 2 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Wayside Food Programs in Portland
Thursday mornings: 7 to 8 a.m. Hannaford Gorham
The Pantry is located at 299B Main Street, Gorham, ME 04038 (St. Anne’s Catholic Church parking lot)
Phone: (207) 222-4351.