Our Mission
Our mission is to extend a helping hand to our neighbors who face challenges with food, fuel or specific needs. As a 501c3, non-profit organization, we serve the individuals and families in the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel, Maine.
Our History
Reaching Out to Feed the Hungry
With the sole desire to help feed the hungry of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel, Church Community Outreach Services (currently operating under the name Community Outreach Services or COS) was organized in November 1990 as a food pantry. COS began with the vision of people from local churches in the Kennebunks reaching out to neighbors in need of food. Then in March of 1991, realizing the best way to organize was to collectively have the churches work together, the group asked the local churches to join. The following churches that agreed that still exist today are the original “Charter Churches” of CCOS: St. Martha’s, St. David’s, South Congregational, Holy Cross Lutheran, First Congregational, West Kennebunk Methodist, Sea Road Christian Church, First Parish Unitarian Universalist, and Kennebunk Baptist Church.
Today, the local churches that support and partner with COS have grown and also include the following: The Village Baptist Church, Church on the Cape, Christ Church, St. Ann’s Episcopal, Seven Mile Road Church, and First Church of Christ, Scientist. The COS Food Pantry is a needs-based food pantry that provides a supply of fresh produce and non-perishable food items to any size family in Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport.
Keeping Up to Meet the Growing Needs
Over the years in an effort to meet the many growing needs of the community, COS expanded their assistance programs to include the following services:
- Diversified Food Programs – in addition to the Food Pantry, which is now open four days a week, COS provides the following: food delivery, and holiday food baskets.
- Fuel Aid Assistance Program – partnering with the 3 Town GA’s to provide heating fuel on an emergency basis.
- Specific Needs Program – partnering with the 3 Town GA’s to provide financial aid to those with special requests such as eyeglasses, health care needs, auto repairs, rent/mortgage, electric bills, etc.