The Mobile Free Pantry is Now Located in the Parking Lot of CHAVAL, 58 Pine Street, on the West End of Portland.

Chef lma Lopex, Stands in Front of Her French & Spanish Inspired Brasserie CHAVAL 58 Pine Street, in the Wesst End of Portland.

“We want to get the entire community involved in the Free Pantry” said Ilma Lopez, owner of CHAVAL, at 58 Pine Street, this afternoon.  The Free Pantry was moved to this new location a week ago from its original site in the Urban Farm Fermentory Brewing Company parking lot on the east end of Portland.  Lopez was clearly excited to have this facility in her parking lot where she can monitor it on a daily basis and develop some sustaining resources to keep the shelves stocked for those in need.

However, according to the Pantry’s web page, it will only be in this location until Friday, August 18, 2023, –  a fact that Ms Lopez was unaware of at the time of my interview with her.  This blogger is trying to ascertain the next stop on this mobile facility’s journey.  Rumor has it that the next location could be in the Deering area.  However, that is unconfirmed.

Lopez grew up in Venezuela where she and her family struggled with food insecurity.  That experience has helped to make her commitment to the Free Pantry personal.  Lopez is well known in southern Maine for her baking acumen which has won her two James Beard’s nominees for Best Pastry Chef.

Her highly respected husband Chef Damian Sansonetta runs the Ugly Duckling on Danforth Street.  The two also owned the tiny Piccolo, at 111 Middle Street, an excellent Italian restaurant, until it closed three years ago. .They also owned the highly popular lunch spot, the Blue Rooster Food Co., on Dana Street in the Old Port. – now closed as well.

Lopez said that donations to the Free Pantry are always welcome.  Currently canned food, personal  hygeine items, and diapers are needed to restock the shelves of this desperately needed resource.   Limited refrigeration is available in the Pantry, but please no fresh meat or fish products. Dated items like rice, pasta and prepared foods are also needed Lopez said. The need is urgent in  a city with a huge homeless population and many asylum seekers currently housed at the EXPO, near Hadlock Field.  The city’s Public Health Department has been suppllying the Free Pantry with narcan.  That supply is dangerously low said Lopez this afternoon.  “We need a refill of that,” she said.  “Please keep the door closed after you leave.  We don’t want animals getting in there and causing problems.”

Take what you need and leave what you can is the spirit behind the Free Pantry.

A creative person with lots of ideas, Lopez said she hopes that eventually members of the public will be interested in taking cookng lessons at CHAVAl. The cooked food will be donated to the Free Pantry.  If you are interesed in that possibility, please let Lopez know of your interest.

The Free Pantry was the idea of Mei DW, a carpenter, who lives on Munjoy HIll with her husband Paul Cavaluzzi, who works in a group home.  “Lots of systems are failing us, so we wanted to help,” said Mel early last month.  The winterized Pantry was designed and built by “We Built This” – a women led carpentry workshop series.  From conception to its recent completion, the entire process took about a year to complete.

“The plans for the construction of the Panty are available so that other communities can replicate this in their own communities,” said Mel.  “There is a need for this Pantry throughout Maine and I’m thrilled its here in Portland where we live,” said Paul.  “Hopefully, this will inspire other commmunities to create their own pantry and we will help them,” said Mel.  For more information on the Free Pantry, please email Mei at:  freepantry@gmail.com.  Please visit:  www.portlandfreepantry.com for more.

As for the seven year old CHAVAL, Lopez said that like most restaurants in the area,  her Brasserie is currently understaffed.  She needs back of the house and front of the house staff as well.  CHAVAL is open Tuesday – Saturday from 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm.

Can you or your business/nonprofit help keep the shelves stocked until August 18, 2023?

For more background information on the Free Pantry, please read posts herein dated July 9, 2023 and July 13, 2023.