Spring 2025 Newsletter

Community Coming Together Around Food

SPRING 2025 NEWSLETTER  Dear Friends- Happy Spring! The grip of a lonnng winter is weakening in the face of longer days and more sunshine and warmth, and signs of new life. Our winter was a busy one -- with staff changes, increased market visits, the return of the long tradition of the Pies on Parade event, federal changes that impact us locally, and plans to celebrate our milestone 35th Anniversary this May....and so much more.    We have lots of news and hope you'll take a few minutes to read the highlights in the stories below. As always we are grateful to the many individuals, businesses and foundations who support our work through their gifts of time and financial support. We have a lot to look forward to - both celebrations and challenges - but are buoyed by all of you. Thank you. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.  Alan Kearl, Executive Director AIO Food & Energy Assistance alan@aiofoodpantry.org  | 207-596-1043 STAFF UPDATES       WELCOME LAURA McGRATH!  We are excited to welcome Laura McGrant to the AIO staff as our new Program Director.  Laura brings over 30 years of experience in education and nonprofit work. Throughout her career, Laura has consistently found a deep sense of purpose and joy in serving and supporting the wider community. As Program Director, Laura is excited to be part of AIO's leadership team.  She is often overheard asking, "How can I help?" We hope you'll stop by and introduce yourself when are next at AIO.    THANK YOU & GOODBYE TO KEISHA  Keisha has been an integral part of the AIO team these last two years. Keisha announced her resignation recently and we are sorry to see her go. For anyone who has met or worked with Keisha you know her infectious laugh, can do attitude to help out wherever needed, and dedication to AIO and the families we serve. We wish Keisha well in her next endeavors. She will be missed here at AIO! 35th ANNIVERSARY- CALL FOR STORIES! We need your help in collecting stories and photos that help tell the AIO story that began in 1990. We will be holding several events throughout the year to honor this 35-year anniversary, including a birthday celebration & open house at AIO. Everyone is welcome to attend! SAVE THE DATE:  TUESDAY, MAY 6, 4:00-6:00pm  To honor this milestone year AIO invites community members who’ve been involved over the years to share stories and photos. If you, or someone you know, has been part of AIO’s founding, volunteered or partnered with AIO in some way or who have been the recipient of assistance at some time during its history - we'd love to hear from you!  We will be compiling these stories and sharing them as part of the anniversary year. Please click the button below to share your memory, story or photograph. You can also contact Alan Kearl, AIO’s Executive Director, alan@aiofoodpantry.org or 207-596-1043. We welcome stories in writing or by voice memo and would be glad to have you come to AIO so we can record your story, which can be anonymous if you prefer. Stories, photos and any printer materials, newspaper articles received by April 10th will be used in a compilation and shared at the May 6th celebration; however we will be collecting stories all year.  35th anniversary events will be updated on AIO’s website at www.aiofoodpantry.org/35anniversary  Click Here to Share a Story! ARTFEEDS: Call for Artists! We are excited to announce plans for the 4th annual ArtFeeds: Artists in Action Against Food Insecurity. AIO is accepting entries from March 25 through April 16, 2025, with results announced on April 21. Interested artists should submit their entry by April 16. Submission details can be found on AIO’s website. AIO celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, so in honor of this noteworthy year 35 artists will be selected to participate. Artists will be selected based on the quality and creativity of their work, and their connection to the community. Photos: Artists shown at work (L to R): Ingrid Ellison, Colin Page, and Ileana Appleton Foster.  Photo credit:  Tara Rice Photography PIES ON PARADE SUCCESS!  What a weekend it was! We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers, Pie Stop locations, sponsors and all of the participants who made the revived Pies on Parade event such a success. Together we raised nearly $16,000 in critical support for AIO's programs.  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU to our generous Pies on Parade sponsors:  THANK YOU to the following businesses who provided gifts for the door prize drawings.  RISE IN HOUSEHOLDS SERVED We have seen a dramatic rise in number of households served - 476 last week, a new record beating 469 from 3 weeks ago We don't know exactly why there has been a steady surge in AIO visits since Thanksgiving, but we suspect it may be a combination of: 1) A very long cold winter that caused many to use limited income on staying warm and relying on AIO more for food 2) We added Saturday as a market day in early December - visits are now about equal to a Friday 3) Our new Home Deliveries are all net new members not previously able to make regular market visits 4) Uncertainty with other food sources and possibly some stocking up or preparing for job loss and/or lack of US Government support Whatever the reason, we know that lowering the barriers to accessing food fulfills an important part of the AIO Mission and we are glad to be able to serve more people.  CANCELLATION OF USDA SUPPORT OF LOCAL FARMS & HOLD ON TEFAP FUNDING Photo credit: Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Erickson's Field  Since the first wave of the Federal Government’s freezing and cutting of programs, loans, and spending several weeks ago, many people have asked about the impact on AIO. At that time, we reported that 1) AIO doesn’t receive any direct payments from the US Government and 2) AIO doesn’t have any loans that are backed by the US Government. While uneasy about the future, we were safe for a short while. But in early March we learned that two key US Government programs, that are important to AIO are now impacting us. A US Dept of Agriculture program known as LFPA (Local Food Purchase Assistance) established during the pandemic to support small farms and incentivize them to provide free food to non-profit organizations like AIO were eliminated. In our case, this means that fresh produce coming from Erickson Fields at no cost to AIO, will now stop. Even more impactful is the “pause” in funding of a long-time program that provides about 100,000 pounds of free food annually to AIO. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) has been reduced and put on hold until at least June. If both of these programs are ultimately eliminated, AIO will lose nearly 15% of our food and all of it free. As you can imagine this will be hard or impossible to replace by purchase. While waiting to clarify the complete impact to AIO and see if there will be a quick resolution we anticipate needing to place a 1x/week limit on market visits. These are changes we don’t want to make, but if the cuts to the programs that mean so much to our community are finalized, we will need to react to prevent running out of food. What Can you Do? Please consider writing your member of Congress as soon as possible. A quick outreach by a large group of constituents will make an impact. Click the link below to go to our website for a sample letter and contact information. Click here for info to call/write your representatives NEW HOME DELIVERY!  AIO is always searching for ways to lower the barriers to access fresh, healthy foods. While we never turn anyone away who comes to the market to shop, that's the point.... someone has to COME TO THE MARKET to shop. No longer.....now community members who don't have access to reliable transportation, can't get out or are challenged by social anxiety, can receive AIO food through our new Home Delivery Program. Call / email Laura McGrath to sign up-207-596-1043 | laura@aiofoodpantry.org. We prepare and deliver food to your home on Tuesdays, 2:00-4:00pm. The only requirements are: 1) All recipients need to sign up as members of AIO - here is a link to do this online or come into the market and fill out a paper form 2) Recipients must be home to receive the food (we will not leave food unattended without prior arrangements) - 2-4pm on Tuesdays 3) Once signed up, recipients must let us know if they want this service to stop 4) Customizing food orders is not possible at this time, food will cover a number of categories and will change from week to week HOW YOU CAN HELP 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.  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!  AIO Food and Energy Assistance Mailing Address:    ​P.O. Box 113, Rockland, ME  04841 Location:  1A Gordon Drive, Rockland, ME 04841       Phone:    (207) 596-1043 Email:   email@aiofoodpantry.org​​ Want to change how you receive these emails? 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This email was sent to << Test Email Address >> why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences AIO Food and Energy Assistance · PO Box 113 · Rockland, ME 04841-0113 · USA