By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

At a time when more people are turning to meal programs and food pantries for assistance, the future of the Bon Appetit Community Meal Program in Biddeford is uncertain. 

Bon Appetit, which rents space at Second Congregational Church on Crescent Street, could close within six months without help, long-time volunteer Annabelle Carpenter said. The program has raised only a third of the estimated $48,000 needed for 2008. Carpenter said the program as seen an increase in patrons recently — including a growing number of transients — and expects to serve even more people this winter.

“We know there will be added pressure as people pay for heat,” Director Steve Armstrong said.  

Bon Appetit serves dinner five nights a week to anyone who comes in, no questions asked. Armstrong said the program serves an average of 60 to 80 people each day, with higher numbers at the end of the month. About 18,000 meals are served each year.

“My challenge is to provide healthy meals without going over budget,” Armstrong said. “We feel we’ll meet the challenge.”

Carpenter said an individual meal costs about $2.50 to make, up from $1.75 a year ago. The budget allows Armstrong about $26 a day for fresh food, which doesn’t go far with rising food prices, Carpenter said. 

The program, started 22 years ago, receives food from Good Shepard Food Bank in Auburn and occasionally from Stone Soup Food Pantry in Biddeford. Armstrong said the program needs monetary and bulk food donations.

Carpenter said Bon Appetit has been working with the city to find a permanent home, possibly in the Emery School building on Hill Street.  

“Rent is an issue for us, sadly,” she said, not disclosing the price. “We’re hoping the city will find a place for us. It’s the only way we’re going to be able to survive.”

The program relies heavily on its more than 200 volunteers and Armstrong is the only paid employee, Carpenter said. Patrons also are always grateful and willing to assist when needed, Armstrong said.

“In these hard economic times for everyone, it’s even hard for food pantries,” Armstrong said. “I feel confident it’s a great program and with the people’s help we’ll continue to serve the community.”

Like Bon Appetit, the Saco Community Meals Program has seen an increase in patrons and expects more people as winter approaches. The program, which serves dinner on Monday and Thursday at Most Holy Trinity Parish, averages 36 to 48 patrons per meal, co-chairman Jackie Fontaine said. 

“We’re starting to see more homeless people come in,” said volunteer Colleen Sargent of Saco.

Fontaine said the program aims to serve a homemade meal, including an appetizer and dessert. A  “giving table” of rescued food donated by Garden Street Market in Kennebunk is set up each week. Typically, the table includes fruit, vegetables and bread, Fontaine said. At the end of a meal, leftovers are packaged and sent home with patrons.

While the program is always in need of donations — especially empty plastic containers for leftovers — it is fortunate to be supported by the Most Holy Trinity Parish, Fontaine said. 

“We have a very generous parish,” she said. “Most Holy Trinity has supported this program for 16 years.”

Fontaine said the program does not pay rent or electricity and the church pays for many incidental costs. Additionally, two corporate sponsors buy and cook meals monthly. 

Fontaine said she knows it is a struggle for many families to make ends meet and tries to provide an environment that is uplifting and nonjudgmental.

“By the grace of God, we will feed the hungry,” she said.

Food pantries throughout southern Maine are also seeing an increase in families needing assistance.

At Stone Soup Food Pantry Co-Director Cathy Duke said the program is seeing new families coming in for food each week. The program is open Mondays and Wednesdays to anyone in need and offers items such as bread, bagels, canned goods and fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. 

Duke said the food is donated and the pantry is run by volunteers. She said this winter the pantry will attempt to work with local officials to assist those in need, including directing patrons to heating assistance programs.

“We do it because we want to help,” Duke said.

Buxton Community Food Co-op Founder and Director Joann Groder said her program averages one to four new people weekly. Last week, she distributed food to 53 people in one day. 

Groder picks up food from Hannaford daily to distribute to families in need. Generally, the food includes produce, bread, cakes and deli items. Groder does not ask questions of the families who come to her for food and delivers to some residents who are homebound. She said she opens her doors at 9:30 a.m. and food is generally gone within 15 minutes. The Co-op is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The Hollis Center Baptist Church Food Pantry volunteer Rose Gaddy said the organization has seen an increase in people but so far has not run out of food. The pantry buys food from Good Shepard and receives donated food from Hannaford in Waterboro, but still welcomes other donations.

“If we have [food], we give it,” she said. “It gets lower quicker because there are so many people who need it right now.”

The Scarborough Food Pantry has also seen a dramatic increase in families served in the last year, Director Ellen Parenteau said. The pantry is open twice weekly to families who qualify after filling out an application. She said the pantry is serving new and bigger families and expects numbers to continue to rise this winter as families pay for heat.

“Something has to give somewhere,” Parenteau said. “We’re able to pick up the slack in one area of their lives.”

The Corner Cupboard, a non-food pantry in Sanford, serves an average of 180 people each month. The organization offers items such as shampoo, toilet paper and pet food gathered through donations and grants. 

Volunteer Jo Dill said the number of people coming in for help has increased.