Friday August 7th 10AM to 2PM
Hosted by
Marquee Sponsor
Join us as we raise funds and collect school snacks and back-to-school supplies for local students.
Friday, August 7, 2026 10am–2pm at The Strand, Rockland
On Friday, August 7th, 2025, 10:00am–2:00pm we will host its second annual Fill The Strandwith Snacks, Diapers & Back to School Supplies, and funds drive to benefit AIO’s children's programs. This event challenges the community to fill every seat in the historic theater with school snacks, diapers, school supplies and funds to support AIO’s programs that support Knox County children. With the community’s support, we’ll help the children of our community.
AIO’s goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of August. This Fill the Strand with School Snacks, Diapers & Back to School Supplies event is at the center of this summer effort and if successful with raising $50,000 it will unlock a matching gift of $50,000 from a generous donor. Your dollar donation will double to two dollars!
“Don’t we all remember ‘the butterflies’ on the night before the first day of the new school year? Which teacher will I get? Will I have the right clothes? Will that cute boy/girl be in my class? For some, these are "privileged kid" worries. Imagine being hungry. Imagine being the kid who wasn’t able to get a backpack or a new set of markers. The AIO effort to gather and disseminate food and school supplies through a dignified shopping experience is so important to building self-esteem in our children. We want to equalize the first day of school so that everyone can start off focused on learning. I hope we collect enough donations to help every child in need," says Alan Kearl, Executive Director of AIO.
How will it work?
On Friday, August 7th, AIO staff and volunteers will be at the Strand Theatre from 10:00am–2:00pm to accept school snacks, diapers, school supplies and financial donations. Drive-up and drop-off service will be available or come in the Strand Theatre, located at 345 Main Street, Rockland. AIO is proud to partner with two business leaders who are instrumental in making this event possible—The Strand Theatre who hosts the annual Fill the Strand winter event and Maine State Credit Union who has a long tradition of giving back to those in need in the community. This year Frank 106.9FM will be broadcasting live from under the Strand Marquee during the event.
In-kind donations are greatly appreciated. Non-perishable food with a current expiration date is appreciated (no glass please). AIO would be grateful for donations of the most needed items including the following:
Back-to-School supplies – folders, lined paper, markers, crayons, etc
Food for middle/high school pantry program – granola bars, cereal pods, single-serve microwavable meals, jerky, nuts, dried fruit, etc
Diapers – any size, boxed or not
Monetary donations are also welcome—and in fact your dollar goes further since your donation can unlock a significant, $50,000 matching donation. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated but the following are levels designed to fit your budget:
$30 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 diapers = provides enough diapers for a child for one month
Whether an in-kind or monetary gift—your support will help the people in our community who need it the most.
Food collection sites have been established at area businesses, including the Strand Theatre, First National Bank (Rockland branches), Staples (Rockland), Maine State Credit Union (Rockland), Eastern Tire (Rockland) and AIO Food and Energy Assistance (Rockland).
Questions? Please contact Alan Kearl, alan@aiofoodpantry.org | 207-596-1043 or Leila Murphy, murphy.leila@gmail.com | 207-701-1666