HOULTON, Maine — It was a tough start to the year for the Southern Aroostook Food Pantry.
First came the passing of its founder, Ted Ivey, in February. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, causing a large decrease in the number of people coming to collect boxes of food. As a result, the pantry shut down for one month, then switched to being open only once a month for the following two months.
Now, the pantry is again on its normal schedule, running the first and third Thursday and Friday of the month. People remain confined to their cars, driving up to the pantry and having their food delivered to them by a masked volunteer.
“Things were harder because of the virus,” said John Phillips, who helps run the pantry. “I think a lot of people got scared.”
Persons wishing to get a box of groceries fill out an application requesting their name, address and how many people live in their household. Anyone who meets the pantry’s income guideline qualifies and is eligible to receive food.
In addition to fewer people getting food, the pandemic has upset the pantry’s operations in other ways as well. The number of volunteers has decreased to a third of what it once was, and the pantry has been unable to provide items such as cleaning supplies and toilet paper.
“Before we used to get 500 packs of toilet paper, now we get 20,” said Cheryl Stevens, one of the volunteers at the pantry. “Everybody’s suffering over this.”
Mary Beth Foley, the director of the pantry, said it is likely fewer people have been coming to the pantry due to people getting more in food stamps as part of COVID-19-related relief, as well as increased activity of other charities.
But she said the pantry is there to help anyone who wishes to access it.
“We’re going to stick it out if we can, and we’ll be here twice a month for those that do need it.,” she said.
