The Congregational Church in Newcastle was buzzing with an army of volunteers on Tuesday, packing up 225 Thanksgiving baskets for those in need. The number of baskets is down a little bit from last year.
“Frankly, I don’t think we hit half the people who need these baskets,” Ecumenical food panty coordinator Bill Howelett said.
Howelett used to run a restaurant in Waldoboro and put on a free Thanksgiving dinner. While shopping at Hannaford a checkout lady told him it was a wonderful thing he was doing, but said if she was down to her last nickel she would not come. It was a pride thing, he said.
The people who did come were alone or a couple who did not want to cook for just a few people, and they made a donation toward the meal. “I couldn’t get the people to come in, so I had to stop doing it,” Howelett said.
The food pantry coordinates with area towns, who arrange for pick up and distribution of the boxes. Howelett said some towns deliver the baskets personally and others call families and they pick them up at their town office. The Town of Waldoboro picks up over 100 baskets. They are also the biggest user of People to People clothing exchange, which is also sponsored by area churches.
Thanksgiving baskets have been handed out through the food pantry for over 25 years. “We have an abundance of volunteers,” Howelett said. They also rely on donations of produce from local farmers, including Biscay Orchards, Clarks Farm and County Fair Farm. They receive donations from people in the community, especially through area churches. Local grocery stores also support the baskets with discounts and gift certificates.
Lincoln Academy holds a food drive every year for the project. “They did a great job. They brought in a bunch of food,” Howelett said.
