Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry “Act Three” Fill The Grand Event
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry will host its third annual Fill The Grand food and funds drive to benefit the pantry’s clients. This “third act” was inspired by the success of the previous two years’ fundraisers .
“We’re asking the community to fill every seat in the historic Grand Theater with bags of food and funds to support our mission: ending food insecurity in Hancock County,” says Board member Dale Joyce, who is coordinating the event.
Individuals can sponsor a bag for $25, which will fill one seat in the theater, donate online at loavesandfishesellsworth.org/donate at anytime (including the day of the event); financial donations and nonperishable food can be dropped off at The Grand (165 Main Street in Ellsworth) on Friday, September 13, between 10 AM and 6 PM. The public can watch as the seats fill up and can also support the theater by purchasing concession food and beverages.
Loaves & Fishes hopes the event will raise $10,000, which will let them purchase and distribute more food to more families. “We’ve added nearly 1,000 families to the pantry roster in the past 12 months – and keeping the shelves filled and the doors open now costs us $1,200 a day,” say Loaves & Fishes Board Co-Presidents Clyde Cushing and Tracy Shaffer. “But thanks to the generosity of the local community, we know we can prevail in the face of increasing demand.”
Local businesses and individuals can support the event by becoming an event sponsor, or by holding a food drive to benefit the pantry. For more information about how to participate please contact Tracy Shaffer at 973-287-9926 / ttlshaffer@aol.com or Dale Joyce at 207-479-2990 / dale@daleajoyce.com.
About Loaves & Fishes
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry feeds and serves neighbors in need from their community hub at 137 Downeast Highway (Route 1 - North) in Ellsworth. Loaves & Fishes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that receives funds and in-kind donations from individual donors, businesses, municipalities, foundations and community fundraising events. The pantry seeks to end food insecurity in Hancock County, and treats everyone with respect, so families leave the pantry with dignity and hope as well as groceries.