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A Letter from Our Board President
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Dear Friends,
I hope that this finds you healthy and well as we ready ourselves for June...and summer. While uncertainties remain as we continue to navigate COVID-19 and its impact, I am trying to keep focused on the many things we have to be grateful for, as well as celebrate. Gratitude goes out to all of you who have so generously supported AIO and our clients over the last couple of months -your donations have ensured we are able to purchase food needed to keep our shelves stocked. Our gratitude also goes to our amazing volunteers who dedicate countless hours in keeping our programs moving forward- including those who recently unloaded a semi-truck carrying 20,000 pounds of food!
If you've visited AIO recently or have driven by 1A Gordon Drive at the entrance to Rockland's Industrial Park, you will notice the unbelievable transformation that has taken place on our new building. I would like to convey a special thanks to everyone who has been steadily working on our new building these last months. Our gratitude is tremendous: you have played - and continue to play - such an important role in helping AIO's vision become a reality. Zander Shaw of Z Architecture and Chip and Nick Bauer of Harbor Builders have led the charge in partnership with AIO's team, in what Chip refers to as the "great triumvirate" of client, designer/architect and builder.
You'll hear more from me on the campaign and how you can help as we work to raise the remaining funds needed to finish (just under $200k), but for now, suffice it to say we couldn't be more excited about the progress! As you can see in the schematics below there will be a comfortable bench to welcome visitors. We can't wait to welcome you.
Together is better—and together we will help individuals and families in our community who need it most and in turn strengthen our shared community.
With gratitude,
Liz Jenkins, Board President
email: boardpresident@aiofoodpantry.org
 
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AIO Board Welcomes Vera Roberts & Linda Mann
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We are so pleased to welcome Vera Roberts and Linda Mann to AIO's Board of Directors! Both Vera and Linda are active community members and bring a wealth of experience to AIO's Board.
As long time supporters of AIO, it's wonderful to have them join in this new capacity. They have an incredible commitment to our community and we are grateful to have them as part of AIO's leadership. Their good energy, experience and hands-on approach will serve us well as AIO prepares to step into our new building and a new decade of service to Knox County.
You can read more about AIO's new board members HERE.
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Welcome to AIO's New Warehouse Manager
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We are thrilled to have Joe Ryan join the AIO team in an official capacity as our new warehouse manager. As we work to complete the new building- which will enable us to provide more food, more often- food acquisition and distribution will be essential to our ongoing operations and will be a key part of Joe's role. Please join us in welcoming Joe! Read more.
Contact Joe foodpantry@aiofoodpantry.org.
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FOOD PANTRY HOURS
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30am – 12:00pm
Wednesday 5:00 – 6:30pm
70 Thomaston Street, Rockland (Rockland Industrial Park)
To better serve the community during the COVID-19 outbreak and to meet the challenges we are all facing, AIO Food Pantry’s one visit per month policy has been temporarily suspended. We invite everyone who would like food assistance to come as often as they need help. We have plenty of food and we’re ready to safely and equitably distribute food assistance to everyone.
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Backpack / Weekend Meal Program
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This AIO Backpack/Weekend Meal food assistance program
ensures that kids and their families have food on the weekends, an often vulnerable time for children in particular.
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A Heartfelt Farewell
Sarah Skovran, AIO’s Child Hunger/ Backpack Program Director, has decided to step down at the end of June. Under Sarah’s leadership since 2019, the program has offered creative and healthy menus, more variety, and child-friendly snack options. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, her passion for providing healthy food options for children and families has always been her top priority.
Although the COVID-19 crisis presented additional challenges to the program, Sarah navigated all of those challenges successfully, prioritizing the health and safety of the program’s volunteers. With that in mind, Sarah recruited teams of family members to assemble the food bags. Despite the school closures, she developed a new food distribution system and found alternative food sources when our normal food supplies dwindled. Sarah kept our volunteers safe and the program operating without interruption. We are grateful for her thoughtful and steady leadership.
The AIO Board of Directors, volunteers, partner schools, and clients are incredibly grateful for Sarah’s leadership, creativity, and passion for addressing child hunger in Knox County. We will miss her greatly.
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Many Hands Make for Light Work!
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Last weekend four family groups packed over
500 bags for the AIO Backpack/Weekend Meal program.
THANK YOU Snow-Mills, Wyman, Delaney, and Spear families for all of your help!
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Join us on Instagram!
Hi, I'm Drew, and I recently took over the AIO Instagram! I'm in Thomaston, transplanted from NYC, and enjoying every minute living in my favorite state. If you're on Instagram, please follow @aiofoodpantry to see exclusive content and behind the scenes glimpses of our new building.
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I would also welcome any great photographs you take while volunteering or engaging with AIO, too. You can email them to me at drewasilverman@gmail.com. I'm looking forward to meeting you all over on Instagram as we work to bring Knox Country More Food, More Often!
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AIO volunteers rose to the occasion when the Good Shepherd Food Bank Truck arrived last weekend with 20,000 pounds of food versus the expected 4,000 pounds. With the help of many, including Joe Ryan, Vera Roberts and Beth Bull, the truck was unloaded in 3 hours.
Thanks to Scott Sell for capturing the delivery and sharing his photos with us.
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Progress Report: New Food Pantry Building
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Progress continues on our new home at 1A Gordon Drive, Rockland (Rockland Industrial Park)
- The railing has been installed
- Interior doors are trimmed and ready for paint
- Bathrooms are up and running
- Water bubbler is ready!
- The overhead mini-splits for AC have been installed and radiators will be finished any day now
- Interior light fixtures continue to be installed
We are excited by the progress and hope that you are too.
We invite you to drive by and take a look from the safety of your car.**
We are so close to the finish line, with just under $200,000 remaining to raise (out of a $1.2m goal). Will you help bring AIO home by making a donation to the new building campaign?
Ready to make a donation today?
You can make an online donation - be sure to designate 'new building campaign'. You can also mail a check to PO Box 113, Rockland, ME 04841. THANK YOU.
We invite you to learn more about the project and discuss ways you can help. Please contact Liz Jenkins, Board President / mobile: 617-669-0819.
**New building location: 1A Gordon Drive, in the Rockland Industrial Park, just beyond the current food pantry located at the corners of Thomaston Street and Gordon Drive (across from the South School).
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FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SUPPORT
AIO is incredibly grateful to the following banks who have made generous commitments to AIO's new building campaign:
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We gratefully accept donations that support our programs and our new building campaign.
You can donate online here
Note: At this time we are not able to accept food donations.
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Stay in Touch- To stay updated on our activity, please join our Facebook Community and follow us on Instagram (aiofoodpantry).
Questions- Please get in touch with us: email@aiofoodpantry.org. You may also call us at 207-596-1043; someone is standing by to take your call.
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