CLOTHING PROGRAMS
Passion in all we do.
Clothing Program
District Exchange and Clothes Closet
Clothing insecurity or the lack of sufficient, clean, seasonal clothing is more of an issue than many people are aware. Students who are insufficiently clothed can have problems with school attendance and social issues with their peers.
The District Exchange provides affordable up-to-date clothing for families. The Exchange accepts clean new and used clothing with no rips or tears. Clothing is placed on racks or shelving for easy shopping.
Clients pay a nominal price for their purchase. Paying for the goods, provides shoppers
with a sense of pride.
Clothing Closet
Emergency Clothing
Chimney fires and other random acts are quite common in Western Maine. The District Exchange’s ability to help families is an essential ingredient to get families functioning in a normal way after disaster strikes.
In emergency situations, the District Exchange supplies individuals and families with clothing.
FOOD SERVICES
The Food Pantry is open every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday 9:00-11:00 a.m.
We are a Client/Neighbor choice market where each Client/Neighbor chooses the products that they need. Client/Neighbors can shop once a week.
REPANT! PROGRAM
The motto of this signature program is “Reduce, Reuse, Repant!” Reusable totes are made from upcycled pants and shirts. These sustainable shopping bags are sold and the profits from the sales benefit the Smile Fund, the District Exchange, and the Food
Pantry.
SENIOR BOXES (C.S.F.P.)
A box of non-perishable food supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is available for all Neighbors who are age 60 or older once a month. Neighbors are asked to look through their box and remove any items they don’t want to reduce food waste.
Food DELIVERY
Sometimes there are car problems or personal reasons why a client can’t make it to the Food Pantry.
Clients can contact the Age Friendly driving program three days in advance at 207-824-4444 to request their boxes be picked up on the designated openings. If ineligible for the Age Friendly program, arrangements can be made with Food Pantry
volunteers to deliver the boxes to the client’s home.
Emergency Food
When there is a need for food and the Food Pantry is not open, emergency delivery or pick-up is offered. By calling 207-824-0369, food boxes will be delivered or food boxes can be picked up at an arranged time. The Age Friendly driving program and volunteers from the Food Pantry are utilized for this.
Backpack Program
One in six Maine children experience food insecurity. The backpack program offers school children, who are food insecure, a weekend pack of food. Children are identified by school staff, a family member or as self-referrals.
Food bags include easy to prepare, child-friendly meals, and include breakfast and lunch items, fruit, milk, and snacks. Bags are sent home at the end of the school week.
SNACK PROGRAM
Snacks are provided to those children in need who do not bring snacks to schools.
Participating Farms
- Middle Intervale Farm
- Swain’s Farm
- Sparrowhawk Orchard
- Howe Family Farm
- Chapman Brook Farm
Participating Food Pantries
- Andover Food Pantry, Andover, ME
- Woodstock Food Pantry, Woodstock, ME
- Oxford Food Pantry, Oxford, ME
- Old School Food Pantry, Rumford, ME
- Peru Food Pantry, Peru, ME
- Stevens Memorial Hospital Food Pantry, Norway, ME
FARM TO PANTRY PROGRAM
There are so many food resources here in Western Maine and there are also a wide variety of Food Pantries available for delivery of local food. The Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry works hard to get farm fresh product and fruit to all area food pantries.
As a means to support local farms and local food pantries, this program brings local grown produce and fruit to area pantries. The Bethel District Exchange and Food Pantry partners with the Good Shepherd Food Bank to make this program work throughout Oxford county.
OrderAhead Program
This program allows Neighbors to order food online and either have the food delivered or pick it up at the Food Pantry without leaving their vehicle. Offering all the same fresh produce and other pantry items that Neighbors get while shopping at the Food Pantry and is available once a week.
It is designed for Neighbors who can not shop when we are open or cannot leave their homes. Visit our OrderAhead page to sign up now.
Benefits
- Shop Online
- Food Delivery or Drive-By Pickup
- For House-Bound or Carbound Western Mainers
CONTACT US
We are open every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday 9:00-11:00 a.m.
We are also open for emergencies.
We can deliver food to those who can’t come to the pantry.
279 Walkers Mills Road, Bethel, ME 04217
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 232, Bethel, ME 04217
info@Bethelareafoodpantry.org (Food Pantry)
jane.h.chandler@gmail.com (District Exchange)
