Lincoln County community organizations have collaborated with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Farmers to Families Food Initiative to offer Drive-Thru Farm Stands in Lincoln County next week, where anyone can pick up a free box of food including fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats.

Monday Oct. 26 - at the Waldoboro Town Office (1600 Atlantic Highway, Waldoboro) from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Tuesday Oct. 27 - at the Wiscasset Community Center (242 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday Oct. 28 - at the Whitefield Calvary Baptist Church (150 Grand Army Road, Whitefield) from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday Oct. 29 - at the Boothbay Town Common (Common Drive, Boothbay) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Friday Oct. 30- at The Hub at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust (5 Round Top Lane, Damariscotta) from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Saturday Oct. 31– at Sherman Lake Rest Stop (980 Atlantic Highway, Newcastle) from 9 a.m. to noon.

Farm fresh fruits and vegetables, including potatoes, onions, carrots and apples will be part of the large boxes that will be available to anyone who attends. To maintain social distancing and to follow safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, workers will be wearing masks and will place the food box in your vehicle.

Research shows that the number of people who are food insecure across the country has increased during the pandemic, with an estimated 18 percent of people in Lincoln County, according to new Feeding America projections released in June. This is a 44 percent increase from 2018’s rate of 13 percent, or 4,250 individuals in Lincoln County who were considered food insecure, which means they did not have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.

Thank you to our local farmers and partners who have made these free events possible.

This collaborative event is made possible by: Lincoln County Emergency Management, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, Healthy Lincoln County, LincolnHealth, and Lincoln County Food Initiative.