A Message to the Community

Dear Friends,

You’ve likely heard us say that food insecurity in Freeport and Pownal has been steadily increasing over the past decade. Today, I’m writing to share an urgent update: demand for our Food Pantry has surged this year, even as federal food supplies have been drastically reduced.

Since January alone, we have welcomed 35 new households—more than 70 individuals—many experiencing food insecurity for the first time.

At the same time, key federal food programs we rely on are disappearing:

• The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)—which has provided crucial funding for our food programs—has been suspended, resulting in a loss of approximately $5,000 per year in support.
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)—which supplies our pantry with high-quality USDA foods—has halted deliveries through June. If shipments don’t resume in July, we could lose more than 30,000 pounds of food this year—nearly one-third of our annual supply.

To put this in perspective, over the past decade, visits to our Food Pantry have increased by 63%. In the past year alone, they have risen another 33%.

Despite these challenges, we remain unwavering in our mission to ensure no one in Freeport and Pownal goes hungry. We know you care and want to help—and rest assured, our pantry will remain well-stocked.

Beginning in mid-April, we will regularly share updates on the most-needed food items. You can find these lists on our website and in our community messages, making it easy to see where your support will have the greatest impact.

Together, we will find a way forward. You can help today by making a donation, volunteering, planting an extra row of vegetables for the pantry this spring, or organizing a food drive. Every act of generosity—big or small—strengthens our community.

Thank you for your support and generosity.

Sarah Lundin