Benjamin S. Archer, at the “Free Pantry” Today, at 200 Anderson Street, in the Parking Lot of Urban Farm Fermentory Brewing Co. , Where it Will be Located “Indefinitely.”
Toilet Paper is One of the Basic Items Available at the “Free Pantry” in East Baysode. .
Benjamin S. Archer moved to the west end of Portland recently from the Lewiston-Auburn area to live with his sister. He learned of the “Free Pantry” on-line this morning and showed up today in the parking lot of Urban Farm Fermentory Brewing Co., in East Bayside, to pick up some items to take home with him.
Benjamin said he found numerous items he and his sister need and was pleased and grateful to find them here. He was careful to close the door of the sturdy Pantry behind him when he left to prevent any area animals from entering the building when no one is present. The Pantry is in this location for the foreseeable future according to its builders at the site this afternoon and is open 24/7.
Just before Benjamin showed up Meredith Lubking arrived at the Pantry with a significant donation of snacks, Tampons, baby food and more. She read about the Pantry this morning on-line as well. Fairly new to Portland, Meredith said: “I wanted to support the community in this way.” Meredith works for Maine Foodie Tours and acknowledged that tourism is down this year due to the inclement weather Maine is experiencing.
“Give what you can, take what you need,” is the philosophy behind this innovative Pantry that seeks to fill a need in a comfortable and private setting.
The idea for the “Free Pantry” was that of Mei DW, a carpenter who lives on Munjoy Hill with her husband Paul Cavaluzzi. She and her husband have long been involved in mutual aid projects in the area. “Lots of systems are failing us, so we wanted to help,” she said this afternoon, The winterized Pantry was designed and built by “We Built This” – a woman-led carpentry workshop series. From conception to its recent completion, the entire process took about a year to do. if it weren’t for the fact that Mei works in the building industry, it would have taken much longer and been a much more expensive project than it was to complete. “Urban Farm Fermentory has been very generous in allowing us to be here,” Mei said. Future location plans have not yet been announced.
Saco Valley Credit Union funded the first fill of the Pantry. That includes non-perishables items such as diapers and hygenie products, The Maine Dental Association donated dental hygiene products includig toothpaste and tooth brushes.
As to the construction of the pine Pantry, Mei credits Eldredge Lumber for donating the pine and other material used in its construction. Timber HP donated wood fiber insulation for the floor system. Benjamin & Co.., a timber frame and custom home company, based in Brunswick, donated foam insulation used on the roof, and walls and strapping. Emerald Building in Bowdoinham, donated weather resistant barrier.. Gawler & Daughters Sheet Metal and Dylan Chapman, both of Belgrade Lakes, donated sheet metal for the roof. About $4,000 worth of material was donated for this project according to Mei. It would have cost close to $10,000 to build without these donations. The Pantry was begun with a “Go Fund Me” account. “This was definitely a whole state of Maine project,” said husband Paul, who works in a group home in the area. Clearly, the Pantry was built for year-round use and not just warm weather use. Refrigeration will be available.
“The plans for the construction of this Pantry are available so that other communities can replicate this in their own communities,” said Mei. “There is a need for this Pantry throughout Maine, and I’m thrilled its here in Portland where we live,” said Paul, a proud husband of his wife’s accomplishment. “Hopefully this will inspire other communities to create their own pantry and we will help them.” said Mei.
For more information, please email: portlandfreepantry@gmail.com www.portlandfreepantry.com