How quickly the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club has moved from inviting the public to join us at our meetings for timely topic speakers. But, as you all know, everything has been changing rapidly during this pandemic.  

As the Rotary thought would be the case, the need for volunteers is increasing as unemployment increases. The first requests have come from food pantries and kitchens as their needs for support have increased. They are or soon will be overwhelmed.  

Last Saturday, the Rotary Club collected 200 empty banana boxes from grocery stores from North Conway to Windham, from Oxford and Bridgton and delivered them to the Harrison Food Pantry, where they fill 400 to 500 boxes with food for clients each week. Rotary sought boxes from manufacturers and 1,500 have been donated.  This will help for three to four weeks, but gently used boxes from stores are still needed. Rotary is coordinating this Saturday effort so we know which stores are being covered by whom.

Last Tuesday, the Rotary Club made 25 home deliveries of food from Rumford and Mexico to Poland and various places in between. This Tuesday Rotary made 51 home deliveries. The club expects at least 65 next week. The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club has taken on coordinating all home deliveries for the Harrison Food Pantry. Rotary has been seeking strong drivers to help with home deliveries on Tuesday mornings. Rotarian volunteers from Portland, Oxford Hills and Fryeburg clubs have stepped up and helped out this week.  And others are in the queue waiting for a chance to help.  

If you want to join the list of volunteers, let the Rotary know at carjmad@hotmail.com.

Team Leader and Rotarian Sheila Rollins wrote: Last week, Rotarians and Friends of Rotary delivered food boxes to needy families in Mexico, Rumford, Bethel, Oxford, South Paris, Otisfield, North Bridgton, Waterford and  Norway. Thank you, to everyone on the team! When you meet the families that are struggling, it’s really an eye opener. I met a family last week that had been living in a homeless shelter until the day before. They had just been placed in a basement apartment in Mexico. The father said they had nothing in their cabinets and were so very grateful for the food but even more so for the knowledge that people actually cared. He sent a text message later to express his appreciation.” 

Those of you with trucks or big cars could help by picking up banana boxes and delivering them to the Harrison Food Pantry. Covered are North Conway grocers, Oxford Wall Mart, Hannaford and Food City in Bridgton and Hannaford in Oxford.  Let the Rotary know if you’d like to reach out to stores in your area.  We’ll coordinate so we are not doubling up on the same stores.  Let the Rotary know at carjmad@hotmail.com.

And, last but not least, if you feel you would like to make a donation you may make it to the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 845, Bridgton, ME 04009 indicating for food pantry or Covid-19 project support. Rotary had to postpone its major fundraiser, the Golf Tournament, until the Fall so any donation would be gratefully accepted.

“Thank you for all you do in your communities.  Stay well; stay safe,” said Rotary Club president Carol Madsen.