One of the reasons we are fortunate to live here is the help our non-profit organizations provide. These mainstays combine with our sense of community and become stronger during hard times. The worldwide pandemic is a test of epic proportions and our local safety net is holding strong. Here are some examples and ways you can help these nonprofits continue their work.  

With schools closed and some breadwinners out of work, the need for food is greater than ever. Boothbay Region Food Pantry is open Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for residents of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, at the corner of Eastern Avenue and Route 27.

In response to the COVID-19 concerns, the pantry has a new process to keep its volunteers and clients safe. Clients each complete a grocery list, then wait outside to pick up their box of items when their name or number is called.

Those wishing to sign up as a client can stop by on Fridays and volunteers will deliver a box of food to those unable to get to the pantry.

According to volunteer Jane Lunt, donations of non-perishables like canned baked beans, flour, cereal, oatmeal and diapers are welcome. Dropping off donations of perishable items like meat or cheese need to be coordinated with the pantry and arrangements can be made by calling 350-2962. And since more items need to be bought than usual, the pantry welcomes financial contributions. These can be sent to Boothbay Region Food Pantry, P.O. Box 63, East Boothbay, ME 04544.

“We are seeing an increase in families that need assistance through Food For Thought,” said State Rep. Holly Stover. This BRCRC program provides food for families on Fridays, to help through the weekend. And it recently had a boost from area restaurants including the Thistle Inn, Brady’s Restaurant, Waves and especially Ports Pizzeria. Ports has been making meals for the program.   

School has now transferred to home and students are still receiving their weekday breakfasts and lunches thanks to the hard work of Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 staffers who put together meals for more than 300 area children. Some of the lunches are delivered to homes, others are available for pick up at sites around the area: Southport Central, Edgecomb Eddy, the Boothbay town office and the YMCA. To contribute, go to aos98schools.org

In addition to serving as a pick up point for school lunches during the week, Boothbay Region YMCA is providing weekend breakfasts and lunches for anyone under the age of 18 on Saturdays and Sundays between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. As executive director Andy Hamblett explained, grant funds from the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation, the Sayles and Maddocks Foundation and private contributions are helping to fund the program.

In addition to the weekend food program, the Y’s staff is offering wellness classes through its Facebook page and via live streams from home. Emily Mirabile and the Y Arts students are offering stories for children. The child enrichment center at the Y is open for essential employees and a Red Cross bloodmobile is scheduled at the Y in May.

More programs can be seen at the “Your Virtual Y” page on the website. Contributions for these and other programs can be made at https://boothbayregionymca.org/donate.html

Meals on Wheels continues to provide weekday meals for home-based clients and is volunteering to deliver free Sunday meals made by Ports Pizza. Meals on Wheels in Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport is a completely volunteer-run operation and not affiliated with the federal program, according to Mary Lou Koskela. Those wishing to contribute to the program can call Pat Wheeler at 350-6754.

For area veterans, the American Legion is calling every one of its 145 members to see if there is anything they need, from shopping to bringing a meal to them.  According to Post 36 Commander David Patch, recently a veteran who had lost her help for grocery shopping was able to connect with help via the Legion. 

Patch said the biggest help is for people to maintain the “human connection” – reaching out by phone so that veterans aren’t feeling isolated. “We come together as a community and we take care of each other,” Stover said. “But one of the most meaningful things you can do is to pick up the phone and call someone to check on them.”

Patch also reported that “The cemeteries will have the flags placed on the veterans’ graves on schedule May 9. Each of the five memorials will have their wreaths placed on Memorial Day, with or without a parade.” The Legion is looking for suggestions about how it can help the community which, Patch said, is its core mission.  

Due to the state mandate to put social gatherings on hold, the local Legion is not able to hold its income-generating breakfasts or hall rentals. Anyone wishing to make a financial contribution to help with overhead of the Legion Hall is welcome to send it to American Legion Post 36, P.O. Box 874, Boothbay Harbor 04538.

Boothbay Harbor Rotarians have started a program that helps local restaurants and thanks those on the front lines. Donations in $25 increments are accepted and used to buy gift certificates from local restaurants that are operating. These, in turn, are being given to healthcare workers, EMTs and others who are essential or in need during this crisis. According to program coordinator Marty Helman, Rotary has raised $3,500 within the first two weeks. In addition, Pinkham’s Gourmet Market and T&D Variety have contributed extra free gift certificates. To participate, send a check for an amount divisible by $25 payable to: “The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club Foundation” and mail the check to Rotary at P.O. Box 518, Boothbay Harbor, 04538.

Boothbay Region Health Center is providing free cloth face masks and two group programs to help parents at home with their children. One is for parents with young children and the other is for parents with teens and high school age children. Both meet via Zoom and are facilitated by providers in the Health Center, according to practice manager Robyn Ham.

The Center is responding to email questions from the community about COVID-19 and is seeing current and new patients from Monday through Saturday. Financial contributions to the Center are welcome and can be sent to Boothbay Region Health Care Inc. at 185 Townsend Ave., STE R, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or at https://boothbayhealthcare.org/how-to-donate/

Hannah Corkum, community navigator at Boothbay Community Resource Council, reported that BRCRC is responding to the community’s needs, which are changing daily. One of these is to make sure people don’t leave home multiple times, so a volunteer delivery program is working with Boothbay Harbor Police Department to assist local residents with deliveries of groceries and other essentials. For assistance with deliveries, Stover can be reached at 350-7477 or call Boothbay Harbor Police Department at 633-5616.

BRCRC’s addiction outreach program is still functioning and meeting via phone, as is Corkum as community navigator.

Corkum said unemployment is creating the need for help with rent, fuel and utilities. For more information, call her at 350-1743.

BRCRC welcomes financial contributions, which can be sent to:  BRCRC, P.O. Box 43, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538.