“Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’”

— Matthew 14:16, (Jesus feeds the 5,000)

By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

HARRISON — It has been a minor miracle that area food banks are still able to feed those in need despite the fact that many grocery stores are struggling to keep shelves stocked with basic necessities.

Just when it seemed like there might be a shortage, there came the news that extra food was available from pantry sites that had been held in churches and were required to temporarily close.

“Our volunteers are doing everything they can to bring enough food to the food bank to help everybody during this time of crisis,” said the Harrison Food Bank Executive Director Sandy Swett.

“Last Tuesday, I saw a lot of people who were very desperate. They were very scared, afraid that they were going to lose their income and not be prepared,” Swett said. “We expect that our numbers are going to increase dramatically to deal with that.”

During a time of crisis, people prevail and bravery emerges.

“Everyone is helping to get us through this. Everyone is pitching in together. Everyone who is in food rescue has that on the forefront of their minds,” Swett said.

Both the Harrison Food Bank, which operates out of the Harrison VFW building, and CrossWalk Community Outreach, which uses the Naples Town Gymnasium, are still providing the service of holding a food pantry and doing so without creating a mass gathering.

Again, those two food banks will be open.

Essentially, people who show up to the food pantry will be instructed to remain in their vehicle and will receive boxes of food that volunteers have packed. This to-go service keeps the risk of exposure to Coronavirus 19 to a minimum.

As of Tuesday at 12 p.m., according to the Live Science website, there were 118 positives cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Maine, which was up 11 from the previous day. The results came from state and private labs and were collected by the Maine Center for Disease Control.

In light of the pandemic, the food pantries have been altering how they distribute food to maintain social distancing. Instead of getting in line, people stay in vehicles. Also, the number of volunteers has been reduced to less than 10 people.

“We are making everyone stay in the car. We are giving boxes to them,” Swett said.

Additionally, both food pantries are doing deliveries to people who are high risk or quarantined.

“We are offering delivery service to anyone who is disabled or at high risk. The Bridgton Rotary has offered to help us do deliveries. The rotary has offered to drive to Waterford, Rumford, Casco,” she said. 

To get signed up for delivery, call 647-3384.

The deliveries occur on Tuesdays.

For those who can leave the house, the Harrison Food Bank will continue to hold its food bank on Tuesdays. The wait will be shorter since people just drive up and get a prepacked box.

In Naples, the next food pantry is Monday, March 30, from 1 to 3 p.m., according to Joanna Moore, Community Health Worker for CrossWalks Community Outreach.

“The hours are the same as usual. However, those coming for the pantry are asked to park in their cars and we will start an assembly line, where they will drive around the rear of the building to pick up a box that will be premade to be placed in their cars,” Moore said.

“Also, available will be meals to-go provided by our Kyrie’s Kitchen volunteers,” she said. 

Like Harrison food bank, this method will make the time spent at the food pantry shorter. However, the expectation is that people who are laid off will increase the numbers of citizens using the pantry.

Crosswalk is helping its neighbors through food deliveries.

“We are presently making meals to go for seniors and immune compromised individuals or those quarantined. We have in the last two days alone provided more than 15 to go meals and 22 emergency food boxes,” Moore said on Saturday.

“If anyone is high risk, shut in or quarantined, we have committed volunteers willing to drop off food or premade meals and to do errands if need be,” Moore said.

Referrals outside of the food pantry’s open hours can be made for Naples residents by emailing us at

crosswalkoutreach@yahoo.com or texting us at (207) 615-3226.

Crosswalks, too, has reduced its crew size to prevent the spread of COVID 19 as much as possible, Moore said.

“Together we are going to weather this storm,” Moore said.