Community rallies to help neighbors losing SNAP assistance

By Ed Pierce 

Windham and Raymond have been known for years as communities willing to step up and help neighbors in need and now that compassion and generosity is on display once more as organizations and individuals are collecting food to offset the loss Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for area residents.

Cub Scouts from Windham Pack 805 will be
at Shaw's Supermarket in Windham from 
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 for a food
drive supporting the Windham Food Pantry
and the St. Ann's Episcopal Church
Essentials Pantry. It is one of many efforts
in the Lakes Region to assist families
affected by the loss of SNAP benefits
during the government shutdown. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

Because of the federal government shutdown, SNAP, benefits ran out on Nov. 1 and threatens to leave already food-insecure people without publicly supported food assistance. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being. Benefits from SNAP are typically delivered to Maine recipients between the 10th and 14th of the month but without federal funding, those benefits may not be available this month, affecting a significant number of community residents.

Among businesses and organizations helping are Windham Cub Scout Pack 805. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, Pack 805 will be conducting a food drive at Shaw’s Supermarket, 770 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The initiative is called “Scouting for Food,” and food collected from the drive will be donated to the Windham Food Pantry and the Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church Essentials Pantry. This theme is “Fill the Canoe,” with a canoe to hold all donations before delivery.

Josh Smeltzer of Cub Scouts Pack 805 says participating in the food drive instills character, citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in young scouts. 

"One way Pack 805 does this is through teaching kids how to not only respect and safely enjoy the outdoors but also respect and give back to their country and their community through projects like Scouting for Food,” Smeltzer said.

This year happens to be the 40th anniversary of the national Scouting for Food program, he said. It was officially implemented as a council-wide project of the Boy Scouts of America in St. Louis. Missouri in 1985. In 1988, Boy Scouts of America adopted the program, rolling it out nationwide.

According to Smeltzer, Windham Food Pantry and Saint Ann’s are in need of canned vegetables and meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, pancake, cookie and muffin mixes, pasta and rice, prepared meals like Hamburger Helper, cold and hot cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and bottled water and juices. The Cub Scouts will also be accepting cash donations on behalf of the food and essentials pantries.

Angela Libby of Windham is holding a food drive over the next two weeks for the Windham Food Pantry. She’s looking for all non-perishable items including boxed pasta; granola or cereal bars; applesauce; cups of fruits; crackers; peanut butter; rice; instant potatoes; jars of sauce; canned fruits, veggies, and soups. Any items you may have can be dropped off at 5 Ward Road in Windham. She is also collecting cash donations via Venmo to Angela-Libby-1 (7563 is last 4 digits) and she will make a trip to the store to purchase items.

She’s also collecting food items for Thanksgiving baskets at the Windham Food Pantry. For that, she’s seeking stuffing; cranberry sauce; gravy; muffin mixes; cream of anything soups; pudding mixes; cake mixes; frostings; brownie mixes; pickles; olives; and oils.

Hailey’s Kitchen, 771 Roosevelt Trail in Windham is offering meals to anyone who needs them due to SNAP benefits being withheld.

“We are the only ones that can keep our neighbors from starving and vulnerable members of our community are looking to us for help,” said Rebecca Willis-Coffin of Hailey’s Kitchen. “Please do what you can.”

Stable Foundations in Windham have started a baby formula drive to help anyone who is struggling this winter. Kasey Suitor of Stable Foundations is trading pony rides for donations so residents in need can purchase baby formula. For more details or to seek help with baby formula, call 802-448-0570.

Tinker Automotive located at 51 Tandberg Trail in Windham is collecting non-perishable food items and diapers to donate to the Windham Food Pantry.

The Refuge Church at 765 Roosevelt Trail, Windham collected non-perishable food items on Sunday, Nov. 2 and will do it again on Sunday, Dec. 7 for the Windham Food Pantry. Shopping carts are available prior to the church’s 9 and 11 a.m. services. The church is seeking ready-to-eat soups/stews; canned pasta meals; jam/jelly; spaghetti sauce; sloppy joe sauce; baked beans; canned tuna/chicken; canned fruit; peanut butter; crackers; cake mixes; kid snacks; paper towels; and toilet paper to donate to the food pantry.

2-1-1 Maine is a statewide directory of more than 8,000 health and human service resources, including information about programs providing assistance with food, shelter, clothing, heating, and healthcare. Visit 211maine.org or dial 2-1-1 for information by phone.

The Wayside Program can help secure food assistance and meals for those in Windham in need. Call 207-775-4939 for help.

The Windham Food Pantry, 375 Gray Road in Windham, is open to Windham residents with proof of residency. Residents are provided with food monthly. Please call to schedule an appointment to visit the Food Pantry. Food and non-food donations are accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monetary donations are accepted Mondays to Thursdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Town Manager’s Office, 8 School Road in Windham. Call 207-892-1931 for information.

The Raymond Food Pantry, 1273 Roosevelt Trail in Raymond, is open from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Call 207-655-6594 for more details.

The Standish Food Pantry, located at 410 Northeast Road in Standish at the former Sebago Congregational Church building and is open Mondays from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. They serve everyone, no residency or income restrictions and no ID or other documentation is required. To make a donation visit: www.standishfoodpantry.org

The Gray Community Food Pantry is located at 5 Brown Street in Gray. Distribution is the first and third Friday from Noon to 2:00 p.m. Contact 207-671-4458 for more info or visit their Facebook page.

Casco Village Church United Church of Christ, 941 Meadow Road in Casco distributes food from 2 to 5 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month. Donations may be made from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. For further details, call 207-899-6725.

A Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Windham Food Pantry is seeking grocery gift cards for Hannaford and Shaw’s Supermarket to purchase turkeys and non-perishable items for local families needing assistance. Canned vegetables, canned gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, instant mashed potatoes, crackers, soups, and drink mixes may be dropped off at Paul’s Boutique, 8 Crimson Drive in Windham; Bailey’s Direct Primary Care, 944 Roosevelt Trail in Windham; Seed Sound Herbal Apothecary, 4 Whites Bridge Road in Windham; Black Maple Piercing, 690 Roosevelt Trail in Windham; and Maine’s Alternative Caring, 771 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. <