Help Yourself Shelf (HYS) at St. Philip’s Church, 12 Hodge St., Wiscasset is honored to be the recipient of stamp out hunger funds generated at both the Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta Hannaford stores in June. Each special bag bought at both stores will award $1 to HYS to buy supplies through Good Shepherd Food Bank and local stores, as well.

Have enough bags, you say?  Feel free to buy many and donate them to the Shelf for participants’ use. Currently, due to pandemic dictates, the Shelf is using boxes for curbside pick-up, but when this necessity passes, our indoor pantry will return, including the use of bags for pantry shopping. While many people bring their own reusables, there are always those who could use donated bags.

HYS wishes to extend thanks once more to all the many people and groups who support the mission of the Shelf with their donations of money and supplies. Gratitude is extended to Hannaford and Shaw’s stores for their participation in Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Fresh Rescue program which sources our pantry with much of its produce, bakery and protein offerings throughout the year. Through Good Shepherd’s Mainers Feeding Mainers program, HYS also receives wonderful fresh produce from Twin Village Foodbank Farm and Lincoln County Gleaners. Without all of those supports, HYS’s aid to food-insecure people would be meager.

The Shelf is a totally volunteer effort, and there are many opportunities for those looking for a way to help, not only on Thursday pantry days, but other days of the week. Whether it be once only, once a month, once a week, or a few times a week, we have space for you to be involved.

For more information on HYS, contact St. Philip’s at 882-7184, leaving a name and contact number. An HYS representative will be in touch.