At Heart of Maine Resource Center, we believe everyone should have access to nutritious food and the support they need to thrive. Through our Client Choice Food Pantry and Community Garden, we work to increase access to food for individuals and families throughout Dexter, Ripley, Garland, Exeter, Athens, and Harmony.

 

Last year alone, we served nearly 3,900 individuals, including children, working families, older adults, and neighbors facing unexpected challenges. Every week, community members visit our pantry to select the foods that best meet their household's needs, creating a welcoming experience that offers both choice and dignity.

 

Your donation directly supports this work.

 

Each month, Heart of Maine Resource Center spends approximately $2,500 purchasing food to supplement donations and food sourced through our partnerships. These purchases help ensure our pantry remains stocked with nutritious options, including fresh produce, dairy products, proteins, and pantry staples. Donations also help cover pantry supplies, food storage and shelving, transportation costs, software used to schedule appointments and manage inventory, and other operating expenses that make our services possible.

 

In addition to our pantry, our Community Garden helps provide fresh, locally grown produce to pantry visitors throughout the growing season. With the support of volunteers and community partners, the garden increases access to healthy foods while strengthening local connections and food security.

 

Your Impact

 

$25 fills a cart for a family of four.

 

$50 stocks a shelf in the pantry.

 

$100 fills a fridge with dairy and meat for a balanced diet.

 

$500 sponsors one day of pantry operations.

 

No matter the size, every gift helps ensure that local families have access to healthy food close to home. When you give, you are helping a parent prepare meals for their children, helping an older adult stretch a fixed income, and helping neighbors navigate challenging seasons with greater stability and support.

 

The need for food assistance continues to grow across our region, and community support makes it possible for us to respond. Together, we can ensure that no one in our service area has to wonder where their next meal will come from.

 

Make your gift today and help keep our pantry shelves stocked, our garden growing, and nutritious food accessible for neighbors across the Maine Highlands.