Hunger Emergency Relief Effort (HERE)

COS is actively working with several local groups to coordinate how we can help those impacted by these unusual circumstances. If you desire to help, we are accepting cash donations via the button below and you can also fill out a volunteer form here on the Volunteer page.

Below are some current headlines for those in need as well as those who want to help. We will do our best to keep this page updated regularly as we move into this uncharted territory.

April 4, 2020 – Weekly Update

What a week for the entire world. As the global pandemic continues to ravage people and change daily life for everyone, we are thankful to have such a wonderful community to work with during these times.

This week we quickly achieved a matching donation of $5,000 made possible from Susan Roth of Trims Unlimited and thanks to many individuals and several small local businesses.

We also had the opportunity to move our operations to Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, which is allowing us to serve more people in a safer and more efficient manner. Thank you to Managing Partners, Tim Harrington and Debbie Lennon for graciously sharing this resource. See video below for some highlights of our move.

The team at Boulangerie Bakery has been sharing the love with their creative “Loaves of Love campaign.” This involves customers purchasing loaves of bread at a discount and then they are donated to our food pantry operations. Check out the video below to see first hand how this program is working.

Friday evening, the Friday Pantry operation was featured on Channel 13 News. We will try to post this video soon as well.

For continued information and updates check back with this page and also follow our Facebook Page Here.

 

May 11, 2020 – Update

We have been so fortunate to partner with Hannaford Supermarkets for years. They haven’t let us down during our increase in numbers. Each week they load us up with food for families in our towns.

Additionally, since the beginning of the quarantine, Christians Cafe in Kennebunk has been donating bagels almost every week!

A HUGE thank you to these businesses for keeping the Pantry stocked for our neighbors.

For continued information and updates check back with this page and also follow our Facebook Page Here.

This is a video interview with some of our strategic partnerships with the Kennebunk Rotary and Portside Rotary and how these ongoing partnerships have deepened during this crisis. Thank you to all those that continue to help and have volunteered time, money and skills. 

September 6, 2020 – Update

With the impending need to move from Vinegar Hill, our team has been working tirelessly to confirm a plan for a new location. It has been a logistical and scheduling challenge the last few weeks to say the least, but our move to our new home is finally happening the week after Labor Day. With the support of the three towns of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport and their encouragement to see us get our own space, COS is pleased to announce our new location at what used to be the old Teen Center on 19 Park Street.
 
With much work and visionary drive from Karen Winton and Chris Osterrieder and support from the Kennebunk Town Manager and Select Board, our dream to have our own home has finally come true. With an incredible construction leadership role from Dave Boyd, the building has been transformed to make our new headquarters a beautiful place to serve the needs of our neighbors in the community.
 
COS is humbled to have such a strong partnership with the three General Assistance Officers of all three towns and we look forward to being able to serve more now that we have our own home. COS is grateful to have been a part of this community for the last 30 years and we look forward to continuing to meet the food, fuel and specific needs challenges of our neighbors. This is a pic of the space with work in progress on some renovations. We will be sharing more detailed information very soon so that our neighbors and volunteers will know what to expect in the coming days.

 

$5,000 Matching Gift Opportunity

Through the generosity of an Arundel resident, Susan Roth and her nationally regarded business, Trims Unlimited, COS has a special matching gift opportunity. For every dollar given to COS between now and May 1, 2020, we will receive a dollar of the promised pledge. Will you help our escalating needs that will stretch our resources as we continue to serve those in our community. Thank you!

Give online now!

 

Executive Director, Mark Jago Video Update

Here is a video from of Mark Jago from a recent Friday Pantry at St. Martha’s Church in Kennebunk. For continued information and updates check back with this page and also follow our Facebook Page Here.

 

Friday Pantry Operations Plan

(3/26/2020) Here are some important operational details concerning our Friday Pantry that begins every Friday at 9am at St Martha’s Church.

Moving forward we will be passing out all pre-packaged food bags from the COS Headquarters behind St Marth’s Church building each Friday.

We will be adhering to the following procedure to comply with the CDC social distancing protocol:

– ood distribution/curbside pickup will begin at 9 am.

– All COS Volunteers packing bags will be wearing gloves and have maintained the safet and most secure handling of all food items put into bags.

– Participants should park vehicles in a single file at the designated areas to the rear and side of the church building.

– Parking lot attendants (wearing masks & gloves) will be there to direct traffic flow. Cars can line up at the curb nearest the building in the rear and by the grass nearest the building to wait for their turn to pull forward. Parking in single will extend to the side of the church building.

– Please stay in the car until you are directed to pull up to the pick-up zone in front of the COS entryway.

– Please pull your car up, one at a time.

– We will put the bag(s) on the table for you and after we step back, please get our of the car and get your bags.

– Once back in the car, you are to slowly drive away following the normal exit from the back and right side of the church building toward Route 1.

We will see you next Friday at the same place and time. Keep practicing social distancing. Stay well!

Update as of Saturday 03/21/2020

For those that have a need please contact your specific town GA office as follows.

Kennebunk: phone 207.985.2102 ext. 1342

Arundel: phone 207.985.4201 ext. 113

Kennebunkport: phone 207.967.4401

For those wishing to DONATE FOOD we now have three drop locations (one in each town) – just look for the COS banners and totes at each location:

Kennebunk – St. Martha’s Church (located in the back of the building)

Kennebunkport/Lower Village – Mornings In Paris

Arundel – Weirs Buick GMC A huge thanks to ALL who have reached out to help and support – we are in this together and it’s amazing how our community has come together in the wake of this pandemic.

Update as of 03/18/2020

Phew! While these times are uncertain, and things are changing minute by minute, we can assure you of one thing that will not change; our dedication to helping our neighbors in need!

We are HERE for you!

Thank you to all who have reached out to help – you haven’t been lost or forgotten (and if you’d like to be added to a list, please let me know). We are sure the needs will increase as we move forward – and our teams of volunteers are in place ready to tackle what’s ahead.

In the meantime – here are list of food items needed currently at our pantry headquarters and can be delivered directly to St.Martha’s Church:
In need of:
– Canned fruit
– Boxed/pouched potatoes
– Quickbreads/muffin mixes
– Pasta sauce
– Oatmeal
– Juices
– Crackers
– Canned vegetables
– Desserts

We will soon be adding two more food drop locations, one in Kennebunkport and one in Arundel. Locations and details to come soon.

In addition, details about the Friday Produce Pantry will be available sometime Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Update as of 03/17/2020

We are happy to identify the operational plan now in place and in coordination with the 3 Town General Assistance Officers. Starting Wednesday, March 18 all requests that come in by phone to the GA offices will be channeled to COS’s Operation Food Relief Center for pickup at the rear of the building at St. Martha’s Church located at 34 Portland Road in Kennebunk. This Center will become the focal point for how we can receive and distribute goods. There you will have someone deliver the food bags to your vehicle. Please have your calls in to the GA Office before 12:00pm to enable you for a same-day pickup or delivery between 2 and 4 pm at the Food Relief Center behind the St. Martha’s Church building.

If you are not able to pick up the food, please let your GA know and someone will deliver the food to your home. We are working closely with the Town officials and appreciate the effort, coordination and cooperation we have received from them as well as many civic groups, businesses, organizations, churches and the Chamber that have rallied to say to us as our friends, “How can we help?” What an awesome example of how Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel care for all their neighbors. COS and friends are here for you. Thank you!

–
Mark Jago
COS Executive Director