Food Pantry Needs Replenishing

Our Food Pantry is in great need of supplies as summer use increases. We are so thankful to be able to help so many who are in need of food for their families. With the faithful support of our community and friends of COS, we have filled nearly 2,000 requests for food since January last year! That’s requests and not individuals. If the average family requesting food is just 4, that amounts to 8,000 people COS was able to provide meals for in a year and a half. We manage, track, record and distribute with great care and attention thanks to our many volunteers who help with food delivery, packaging, stocking, documentation and communications.

And so we turn once again to our community individuals and businesses to help us during the summer when we see a substantial increase of requests for meals from our neighbors who find themselves struggling to buy food.

Will you help us out? Here are the items we need most right now: mayo, pancake mix, pancake syrup, canned fruit, canned ham, beef stew, boxed stuffing, and any gluten-free items.

You may contact us at info@coskennebunks.org to make arrangements for food drop-off or any questions. If your business is interested in running a food drive, you can contact us at the same email address or call us at (207) 604-0445. We’d be happy to help you with the logistics.

Thank you so very much!

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2nd Annual Clothing Swap Grows In Size

Nobody likes it when they see their clothing size grow; but, we here at COS love it! The amount raised this year in only our second clothing swap fundraiser increased tremendously. The lure of shopping for clothes, etc. brought out some serious shoppers who in total helped the Food4Thought Backpack initiative raise nearly $2600. Not to mention, there were some unbelievable deals to be had by all attendees. All the proceeds went to purchasing food supplies for our local children who experience hunger. So thank you to the members of the Think Local group for their support of F4T and everyone who had a part in helping fight against child hunger. Be looking for our next annual Clothing Swap.Clothing Swap pic2

Thank You for 25 Years!

We are thrilled to celebrate 25 years of serving Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. The people of this community have helped invest in our neighbors and friends in a special way. We wish a heartfelt thanks for all who attended our celebration event this year, marking this milestone in our history.

Mail-It Unlimited Food Drive A Huge Success

The food drive was held and sponsored by Bill and Anna Gallant (and Allie) of Mail-It Unlimited to support the Community Outreach Services (COS) Food Pantry and the Animal Welfare Society both of Kennebunk.

“There was an incredible amount of support this year from the members of our community. We are so grateful,” said Beth Jones, the Executive Director of Community Outreach Services, “for the overwhelming response from our community.”

This year’s food drive surpassed last year’s totals. The total in pounds donated was one thousand sixty-nine point four (1,069.4lbs). This will definitely help replenish the food pantry shelves. There was in addition a total of $395 that was collected as donations to the two non-profit organizations. If you are interested in holding a food drive for COS, please get in contact with us at 604-0445 or info@coskennebunks.org.

Thank you to all those who gave for this very worthy cause.

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List of What Foods to Donate to Food Pantry

Hosting a food drive can get your friends, family, co-workers, and community involved in the effort to solve hunger and help us provide a wider vFood Items Neededariety of food than we might otherwise have.

Before launching a food drive, please consider combining it with a fund drive, too. Here’s why:

If you go to the store and buy food to give to a food drive, every dollar you spend puts only a dollar’s worth of food into the charity food distribution system. But every dollar you give directly to COS gets multiplied by more than one, turning into more meals for someone in need thanks to the lower food costs we are able to get through Good Shepherd.

We get asked many times “What do you need for items in the Food Pantry?” While the needs may vary from time to time, here is a list of general food items that we package in meals for those in need of food who contact their town’s General Assistance Office :

  • Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup)
  • Tuna, chicken and canned meat.
  • Canned foods with pop-top lids.
  • Low-sugar cereals.
  • 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes.
  • Canned fruit packed in juice.
  • Canned vegetables (low salt)
  • Mayo (smaller jars)
  • Canned ravioli
  • Pancake syrup
  • Instant mashed potatoes
  • Canned hams(small ones)
  • Jello, instant puddings
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Pasta

You can contact us by phone at (207)604-0445 or visit our website at coskennebunks.org and fill out the information form and we will get in touch with you and even show you how you can run a food drive.