AIO has submitted the following: 
 
With the ever-changing statewide COVID-19 activity, plus our approaching winter, AIO Food and Energy Assistance is pivoting our operations to keep everyone safe, healthy, fed and warm. It is AIO’s intention to continue providing food and energy assistance to those who need it in our community – now more than ever. For the safety and protection of our clients and volunteers, the AIO Food Pantry has revised our client service and volunteer procedures as follows.   

Food Assistance. Beginning Monday, November 30, AIO will be distributing food from the parking lot offering “Curbside Delivery.” Clients will receive pre-packaged bags and boxes which will include a variety of groceries including meat, dairy and vegetables (items will vary). Address is 1 Gordon Drive (in the Rockland Industrial Park- look for the bright orange AIO sign). Our new hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. We expect to follow these new procedures through the winter.

Curbside Delivery Process: Pull into the parking lot. Follow cones and signs. Stay in your vehicle. (If walking, please come to the left side of the building near the loading dock). A volunteer will greet you. Please keep your mask on, over nose and mouth, at all times. Provide your name, address, town, # of adults / # of children. New clients will be given forms to fill out and can be returned to us next time. Food will be placed in your back seat or into your trunk. Come back as often as you need food.

Additional Supplies. Clients will continue to receive feminine products, toilet paper, toothpaste and soap from One Less Worry. Also, the Midcoast Diaper Project will continue to provide diapers through the AIO distribution system; details on the program and the ordering process can be found on their website (www.midcoastdiaperproject.org). AIO is grateful for our relationship with these incredible organizations.  

Food Donations. There are several options to make food donations. For in-person food donations, please call 207-596-1043 (leave a msg, we will get back to you) or email us, foodpantry@aiofoodpantry.org. Food donations can also be made at Shaw’s Supermarket and Rockland Hannaford – place food items in the AIO collection barrel at the front of the store. We also have an Amazon Wishlist which can be launched from our website www.aiofoodpantry.org/give-food.

Energy Assistance. Now offering heating assistance appointment by phone only. We may be able to provide your household with 100 gallons of heating fuel. Please call 207-596-1043 (Press “1” - we will call you back), or email energyassistance@aiofoodpantry.org   

Weekend Meal. This program will continue as normal to provide Knox County children with weekend meal kits every week. We do this in partnership with our Knox County School partners. Homeschooling families are welcome to come to the AIO Building every Friday morning to receive a weekend meal kit using our drive through pick up. If you have children in the schools, please ask your school nurse, teacher or office staff about getting your household enrolled into the Weekend Meal Program. For more details visit our website www.aiofoodpantry.org/wmp-schools

Thank You. AIO is grateful for the outpouring of support that our community has shown us this year (and for the past 30 years!). Your support enables AIO to continue to have more food and heat available for those families who need support more than ever. If there has been a silver lining in 2020, it’s that we’ve learned what an integral role we each play in keeping our community connected, healthy and strong—that we are truly better (and stronger) together.

Stay in Touch. Please follow us on Facebook or Instagram and check our website (www.aiofoodpantry.org) for updates. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us:  email@aiofoodpantry.org or phone 207-596-1043 (leave us a message, we will get back to you).