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Home Delivery is really taking off. While we have made no formal announcement, what started as only 4 households back in February is now up to 60 households. We are providing fresh, healthy food on a weekly basis to the most vulnerable in our community, those without reliable transportation and those who are experiencing mobility challenges. Each week we are building the support infrastructure of volunteer picker/packers and drivers and barely staying ahead of the need. If you have time on Tuesday 12-2 to help pick orders or Tuesday 2-4 to drive orders to homes, we will appreciate it!
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 Summer Meals for Kids- We are told time and again about how important this program is for many families, but then when school ends, that program ends….well no more! Starting this summer, AIO is partnering with five of the area public libraries – Rockland, Thomaston, Owls Head, Camden and Vinalhaven who will act as distribution outlets for families to pick up a bag with 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3-4 snacks each week. This will start on Friday, June 27 and run 8 weeks to August 15. Parents can reach out to these libraries to get the pickup details. We expect this will start out with about 100 children each week. We’ll be glad for any volunteers who want to help with the assembly of the lunch kits on Thursday and driving them to the libraries.
Does your local library want to participate?
It’s not too late - contact Laura McGrath, Program Director
Phone: 207-596-1043 | Email: laura@aiofoodpantry.org
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It's AIO Garden Time! Sarah Bartz has been a long time AIO Garden volunteer and she recently led a new group of volunteers braving the rainy weather to plant the gardens. Bound and determined to collect more food than the deer, her partner Jeff Oehlert installed fencing.
Thanks to Sarah and Jeff and the rest of this year's volunteers!!
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35th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
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THANK YOU to everyone who came and celebrated our 35th Anniversary on May 6. We were delighted so many of you joined us, despite the misty, wet day. We are grateful to the dozens of people who made the event a success.
Our grounds have never looked better- with a new path connecting our buildings, ground work to smooth the driveways, landscaping to brighten the surroundings and fresh paint and signage at the Annex that better connects our campus. Don't hesitate to stop in and see our 35th anniversary timeline.
We are grateful to the individuals who spoke as part of our program, helping to share AIO's history and demonstrating the important role AIO plays in this community.
[photo credit: David Troup]
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WELCOME ARIEL VALDES
Administrative Director
We are excited to welcome Ariel Valdes to the AIO staff as our new Administrative Director. Part of her role is managing our volunteer program, so if you have interest in learning about volunteering please don't hesitate to reach out to her
Ariel is a recent AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni with the Ending Hunger Corps where she was hosted at Good Shepherd Food Bank with the Research and Evaluation team. She brings over 8 years of experience in nonprofit work having worked with organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, including having been a volunteer since 2024 with AIO. As Administrative Director, she is excited to meet all of AIO's wonderful volunteers and to support our neighbors and members in Knox County and beyond!
We hope you'll stop by and introduce yourself the next time you are at AIO! She can be reached at ariel@aiofoodpantry.org.
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DAVID FELDMAN: MAINE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
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Congratulations (and thank you!) to Super Volunteer David Feldman!
Long recognized as a “super volunteer” David was recently awarded Maine’s Volunteer of the Year Award for not only his tireless help at both AIO and Midcoast Habitat for Humanity last year, but his community involvement over the past 13 years since he and his wife Felicia retired and relocated to the Mid-Coast. On Saturday, April 26th David formally received his award from Governor Janet Mills in Augusta. In 2024 alone David volunteered 516 hours at AIO and Midcoast Habitat for Humanity.
Since 1987, the Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism have celebrated and recognized the role of citizen volunteers in the success and vitality of Maine communities. The awards seek to inspire every Maine citizen to be active in civic life and follow in the footsteps of those recognized. Volunteers are the hidden muscle of community strength and resilience. They understand the issues their communities face, they are willing to seek solutions, and then donate their time and talent to implementing the solutions.
“I wasn’t born in Maine but I got here as soon as I could,” said David Feldman. “After a long and satisfying career in New York City construction I am able to bring my experience and knowledge to help my neighbors and my community in my adopted home. Volunteering at AIO and Midcoast Habitat gives me a great sense of accomplishment. Sometimes I feel I get more out of it than the recipients of my efforts.”
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We’re so excited that the old AIO Pantry has had a lovely “facelift”. Built at least 35 years ago, it needed some TLC. Last Fall when we started using it for our Weekend Meals Program, we painted and cleaned the inside, and as we approached the AIO 35th Anniversary, we tackled the outside.
The two buildings are now connected with a nice pathway, and there is a new layer of rock and gravel in the parking lot. The old building has been painted and a new sign has been put up. With landscape design from Jacinda Martinez of Grounded Local, materials from Plants Unlimited and with labor from the congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we were able to completely change the look for the outside of the annex.
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FILL THE STRAND WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 9-2
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We are excited to announce that we are partnering with our friends at the Strand Theatre to hold a summertime Fill the Strand with Food and Back-to-School Supplies event. With your support, we’ll help the children of our community who will be most affected by the new Federal Budget. Our goal is to raise $35,000 by the end of August.
Sponsorships available! 10 business sponsorships are available at various levels. Contact Alan Kearl (alan@aiofoodpantry.com) to learn more.
Please consider -
In-Kind Donations of:
- Back-to-School supplies – folders, lined paper, markers, crayons, etc
- Food for middle/high school pantry program – granola bars, cereal pods, single-serve microwaveable meals, beef jerky, nuts, dried fruit, etc
- Diapers – any size including adult sizes
Virtual Cash Donation for seats:
- $26 for Back-to-School Supplies – backpack and supplies for 1 elementary school student
- $50 for Weekend Meals – feed an elementary student for a quarter
- $75 for After School Snacks – feed 125 elementary school children during their YMCA-sponsored, after-school program for a day
- $100 for the Market - feed a family of 4 for two weeks
Community members are invited to stop by the Strand Theatre on Friday, July 25 from 9-2 to drop off in-kind donations or to make a financial donation. Donations can also be made by check or online by clicking on the link or QR code below.
THANK YOU!
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Grants provide significant support to our programs each year. This year it will be more important than ever given anticipated budget cuts.
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We are grateful to the following for their recent support:
John T. Gorman Foundation: Continued support of our Weekend Meals and After School Snack Programs.
The Bingham Program: Support for our new in 2025 Home Food Delivery Program, enabling us to deliver food to individuals and families who are not able to come to AIO to shop.
Rockland Rotary Club: Support for our Weekend Meals and After School Snack Program.
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2025 Make More Happen™ Award: Our friends at Allen Insurance and Financial were selected by Liberty Mutual® and Safeco Insurance® for a 2025 Make More Happen™ Award. Along with naming Allen Insurance and Financial a 2025 Make More Happen Award winner, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance committed $5,000 to AIO on behalf of Allen Insurance and Financial. With the help of our community we received more than the 500 votes required to double the grant to $10,000! Thank you.
Photo: From left, Dan Bookham, senior vice president, Allen Insurance and Financial; Sarah Toomey, senior territory manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance; Alan Kearl, executive director, AIO Food & Energy Assistance; Jill Lang, marketing director, Allen Insurance and Financial and Stephanie Davis, senior territory manager, Safeco Insurance.
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West Bay Rotary provided a grant to support our new Home Food Delivery Program. AIO joined other recipients recently for the check presentation.
On hand to receive spring grants from West Bay Rotary were Diane Lebson-Olympia Snow Leadership Initiative, Barbara Baldumon-Meals On Wheels (MCH), Kris Landy-Lincolnville Library Association, Rebekah Paradies-New Hope Midcoast, Anna Sideris-Pen Bay YMCA, Greg Marley-Wayfinder Schools, Alan Kearl-AIO Food & Energy Assistance, Stephanie Welch-Trekkers, Shelly Butler-West Bay Rotary President.
Photo credit: West Bay Rotary
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ARTFEEDS:
ANNOUNCING 2025 PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
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We are excited to announce the names of artists participating in the 4th annual ArtFeeds: Artists in Action Against Food Insecurity. Each artist will either make their own bowl or work with a bowl or platter turned by the Maine Department of Corrections.
THANK YOU to the following artists for their participation and support of AIO this year: Ileana Appleton Foster, Annie Bailey, Nancy Benner, Hannah Berta, Susie Brandt, Beth Bull, Richard Chalmers, Caroline Dishop, Chip Dort, Chloe Egan, Ingrid Ellison, Hélène Farrar, Brenda Free, Truth Hawk, Alanna Hernandez, Eric Hopkins, Alexis Iammarino, Ariana Killoran, Sarah Lee, Amy Lowry, Nathaniel Meyer, Tara Morin, Colin Page, Jennifer Peppe, Leecia Price, Avery Reed, Margaret Rizzio, Maine Department of Corrections, Maine Juvenile Center, Maine Women's Center, Sarah Sevier, Anneli Skaar, Carol Sloane, Douglas Smith, Michael Stasiuk, Catherine Steiner-Adair, Barbara Sullivan, Karen Talbot, Laura Waller, Peter Walls, Tyler Weeks, Penny York, Ashley Zipp
Please SAVE THE DATE for September 6-13 for the exhibition and silent auction of the bowls and platters which will be on display at Page Gallery in Camden. All proceeds from the silent auction will go to supporting AIO's programs. To learn more about the ArtFeeds Event please visit: www.aiofoodpantry.org/artfeeds
In the meantime please follow AIO on Instagram (@aiofoodpantry) and Facebook to see artists' progress over the summer.
Photo credits: Artist Anneli Skaar (Alissa Hessler) and Artist Alanna Hernandez (Tara Rice Photography)
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AIO AROUND TOWN - SAVE THE DATE!
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We hope you will stop by and see AIO at these upcoming community events:
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
Tenderwild Farm, Rockport
June 26, 3-6
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SUNDAY STROLLS
Rockland Main Street, 11-4
June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21 and October 19
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MEMBER COOKOUT
AIO, 1A Gordon Drive
July 10, 11-2:30
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BLUES FESTIVAL
Rockland Harbor Park
July 12-13
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FILL THE STRAND WITH BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Rockland Strand Theatre
Friday, July 25, 9-2
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LOBSTER FESTIVAL
Rockland Harbor Park
July 30-August 3
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CAMDEN ARTWALK
August 21, 5-7
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ARTFEEDS EXHIBITION & ONLINE SILENT AUCTION
Page Gallery, Camden
September 6-13
Exhibition Opening and auction launch, September 6
Exhibition reception & auction closing, September 13, 4-6pm
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THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP TODAY:
1. MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION. Your dollars go further as AIO is able to purchase food at a discounted price. When you make a financial gift you are helping to provide food, energy and diaper assistance to families who need help. You can donate online here.
2. VOLUNTEER. Volunteering at AIO is a great way to help people in your community, meet new friends, and be part of one of the most innovative food pantries in Maine. Whichever opportunities you choose, you will be an important part of the work we do. To get started click here.
3. DROPOFF DONATIONS. There is a wide variety of food, household and personal items that the families we serve need. To learn about our most needed items check here. |
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You could also...
Share this newsletter with your friends, family and colleagues
Follow us on social media to stay updated on our activities.
Facebook (AIOFoodpantry70)
Instagram (aiofoodpantry)
Hold a Food or Diaper drive!
The majority of the food and diapers we distribute come from donations. Hold a fundraiser in honor of your birthday or anniversary.
Other Ways to Give
Learn more at our website
From all of us here at AIO - THANK YOU! |
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