Damariscotta town clerk Cheryl Pinkham has issued a challenge to her fellow area clerks to “fill the food pantry” between now and Election Day in an effort to reduce hunger in the Midcoast. The goal is to generate donations for local food pantries during the absentee ballot process and on Election Day.
“It’s a perfect opportunity to help people who are in need. This time of year is especially important as the seasonal jobs end and winter begins,” Pinkham said.
The idea came to Pinkham while she sat in a meeting and found herself thinking of ways to do something positive during a busy election year.
“This helps break up the monotony of the election process,” she said. I expect voter turnout, especially absentee, to be high this year. This is one way to generate interest while you do your civic duty.”
Participating towns include Nobleboro, Bristol, Alna, Boothbay, Newcastle, Jefferson, Bremen, and Wiscasset. The donations will be stored locally and given to the nearest food pantry that services the town.
“If you take it to Bristol it will be donated to the New Harbor pantry and so on and so forth,” Pinkham said.
According to some media reports, the once impervious middle class is joining a growing number of Americans who are having trouble meeting even basic nutritional needs. Lincoln County food pantries are also feeling the strain of a down economy with donations down sharply while the number of people seeking assistance continues to rise.
“In the summer we get a lot of fresh produce but that has tapered off. The need has been up in the last few weeks and is increasing. There is always a particular shortage of non perishable items that can be stored,” said Linton Studdiford of Help Yourself Shelf in Wiscasset.
While billed as a challenge, Pinkham envisions the program as more of a collaborative effort with the real winners being those who are helped. In addition to food, participating municipalities are also accepting common household goods such as paper towels, dishwashing detergent, and other “necessities” she said.
“We’ll even take pet food,” Pinkham said.
Donations are currently being accepted at town offices beginning Oct 2 through Election Day. Local food pantries have offered to pick up the donated goods and begin the distribution in November. Collection boxes will be available outside of town offices and non-perishable items can be left during normal business hours.
“Hopefully this program catches on and people remember that having food is not always a given,” Pinkham said
For a full list of participating municipalities or to donate, contact Cheryl Pinkham at 563-5168.
