We will have the turkeys (thank you, Scarborough Kiwanis!), but we need help gathering the traditional fixings and sides like gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, crispy onion topping for green bean casserole, and more...

Project GRACEand the SPD Volunteers in Police Service are hosting a food drive for us!  Let them know what you can bring on Thursday Nov. 4th or 11th. Thank you!!

During the month of May, the Scarborough Food Pantry is giving taco dinner kits, and Project GRACE is contributing fresh limes, onions, and sweet peppers. If you'd like to help  build a kit, follow this link to our SignUpGenius. You can bring your donation to the pantry on any Tuesday afternoon (1-4) or email Project GRACE at pgme@projectgracemaine.org if that timing isn't convenient. Don't want to shop? You can also donate to sponsor a meal kit.

What's in a kit? Taco shells, MILD seasoning and sauce, rice, shredded cheese, beans, onion, lime, sweet bell pepper, and ground beef. (PLEASE DO NOT DONATE MEAT, instead give a gift card or the other items.)

During the five weeks mid-November to mid-December, H annaford customers can help fight hunger by being on the lookout for the Buy 1, Give 1 Program beginning November 15. When customers purchase participating products, Hannaford will donate the same item to a regional food bank (Good Shepherd). None of this food will come to the Scarborough Food Pantry, but it will go to communities serving the hungry in Maine. (Week One: 11/15: Canned Vegetables; Week Two: 11/22: Pasta; Week Three: 11/29: Applesauce; Week Four: 12/6: Cereal;Week Five: 12/13: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste.)

The Scarborough Food Pantry will continue to need support from the community, and we we appreciate your generosity. To protect the health of our patrons and volunteers, we are not accepting unannounced drop-off donations of food at this time.  We are also temporarily limiting collection sites. Please contact us before making plans to collect or donate food. We thank you for helping us keep our community healthy.

You can also help with a monetary donation: send a check payable to the Scarborough Food Pantry c/o the First Congregational Church, 161 Black Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074 or make an online gift to our friends at Project GRACE who will make sure your gift helps us feed a neighbor.

There is a non-perishables donation box at the Scarborough Shaw's at 417 Payne Road (corner of 114 & Payne). You can leave non-perishable foods (boxes and cans) in the box, and our volunteers will bring them to the pantry. At this time, we are not accepting drop-in donations at the pantry.

Kids are home for summer break, on vacation, but many are hungrier over the summer. That's because they don't get meals and snacks at school. Families with already tight budgets often come up short in the summer. And their kids go hungry.

We are fortunate when local gardeners share their backyard bounty. Most home gardeners and community gardens harvest more fresh produce than their families and neighbors can consume, and we welcome their abundance.

We strive to offer our patrons the most wholesome foods possible.

• Please only donate produce that you would enjoy eating yourself.
• Produce is fresh enough to remain in good condition for at least 3-5 days.
• Produce is free of insects, mold, or decay which can spread disease
• Produce has been grown using water obtained from a water source free from pathogens and other contaminants
• Produce has been handled only by people who follow proper handwashing procedures.

In accordance with food system best practices, we do not accept anonymous backyard produce. When you bring your produce, we'll ask for your name and contact information. By donating produce to the pantry, you are certifying that it is fresh and safe for consumption to the best of your knowledge.

We encourage backyard gardeners to report donations to the Maine Cooperative Extension's Harvest for Hunger program.

Some kids don't. We have cereal, and it would be great to have grocery gift cards so that families can buy milk, yogurt, and other perishables.

WHAT'S NEEDED

• Grocery gift cards and money.

Please contribute online today. Thank you!