Food Pantry Still Open
- May 16th 2025
- Community
Linda Hutchins-Corliss, York County deputy manager and human resources director, surveys the produce shelves at the York County Food Pantry with pantry coordinator Rob Boyd. The food pantry continues to operate, open to the public Tuesdays and Fridays, noon – 3 pm.
Photo: York County Government
Thanks to York County Government and FCF
York County Government
The York County Food Pantry will continue to operate at 5 Swett’s Bridge Road in Alfred, opening to the public as usual on Tuesdays and Fridays, noon-3 pm. Following York County Shelter Programs’ closure of its adult shelter, York County Government and the nonprofit First County Foundation (FCF), the county’s charitable arm, decided to take over the operation of the food pantry. “There will be no hiccup,” said York County Manager Greg Zinser of the food pantry operation. “There is no intent to change any distribution.”
The pantry, which helps feed residents from across York County and is open to all, operates like a market, where those who come for food browse for the items they need. This way, folks make their own choices, avoiding items they can’t eat due to food allergies and the like. Some shelves are marked with the number of cans or boxes that shoppers are invited to take, and some have no limits, depending on item availability. Some items, such as meat, poultry, fish and the like, are handed out by shelter volunteers. During the summer and fall, local farms are generous with their produce donations. Area supermarkets donate produce, meats and some dry goods year-round. The pantry is a member of Good Shepherd Food Bank and receives some commodities from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal government initiative.
The pantry operates with the help of volunteers. If interested in helping, call Rob Boyd at 207-289-9668 or email rlboyd@yorkcountymaine.gov. To make a financial contribution, call FCF’s Rachel Stansfield at 207-459-7055 or email restansfield@yorkcountymaine.gov.
