The Waterville Area Food Bank began on October 5, 1981. It started when Rev. Terry McKinley was the minister at the Methodist Church. The Interfaith Clergy worked together for both the food bank and the homeless shelter. The first director was Rev. Frank Baker, a retired Episcopal minister. When he retired, Jane Couture became the director. At the present time Dave Dawson, from the Episcopal Church, is the director. Next year, we will be celebrating 30 years!

The food bank receives money from the local churches and individuals as well. We buy food mainly from the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Lewiston, but also from local grocers; our hamburger comes from Joseph�s market. We receive food donations from the churches; our church contributes both money and food. The Government also supplies us with basic foods: canned vegetables, pasta, canned fruit and other items as they become available.

We are open four days a week for 2 hours a day, and staffed each day by two volunteers from the churches. I volunteer the first Monday and the third Wednesday of each month, and on Monday afternoon, I stock the shelves.

Our clients must be Waterville residents, meet the income guidelines, and go to the Salvation Army or the Welfare Assistance Office and receive a form that tells the food bank workers that they qualify for food. Clients may come to the food bank every 14 days to receive food, as this is not their only source of food, but to help. They receive canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, spaghetti sauce, pasta (spaghetti or macaroni), a box of macaroni and cheese, a cup of ground coffee (or tea), rice, tomato soup and chicken and noodle soup, a box of saltines, juice (when we have it), a quart of radiated milk, and a roll of toilet paper. Because of the generosity of the churches, we also have mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, biscuit mix, brownie mix, and some toiletries. Each client also receives their choice of frozen ground turkey, hamburger, and sometimes chicken. They also receive a pound of oleo, and at the present time, a package of bologna.

So far, in 2010, we have served 1032 families, which is 2254 people. We have 22 new families (14 in September alone), and 52 people in these new families. I worked on Monday, and we served 10 clients, which included 45 people and one new family. One lady came in a few weeks ago in tears, as she really didn�t want to ask for help. Her husband had just lost his job� and there were 3 children in the family. We assured her that we are there to help out in any way we could. And we filled her grocery bags full. I have never felt that people �used� the food bank.

Our church supports this worthwhile project, both with money and with donations from the members.