Three towns, one united mission to feed neighbors.  On Saturday, December 17th the police departments from Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, and Scarborough are going above and beyond to raise critical funds for the food pantries serving their communities with a pop-up food drive and fundraiser benefiting the South Portland Food Cupboard, Judy’s Pantry, and the Scarborough Food Pantry.

With the high prices for food and heating fuel, many of our neighbors are turning to the food pantries to help stretch tight budgets. “As the weather turns colder, as prices at the grocery stores continue to be high, we are seeing more and more neighbors stop by the food pantry,” says Scarborough Food Pantry’s volunteer director, Ellen Parenteau.

In addition to the nonperishable foods donated to "pack the pantries", the police and volunteers hope to raise critical funds for the pantries. Local businessman and philanthropist, Eddie Woodin, has issued a challenge match to the three pantries to raise $15,000 for their missions to feed their neighbors.

It’s easy to give online or stop by any of the three public safety buildings on Saturday, December 17th 9-11 a.m. with nonperishable foods or cash (or checks payable to the South Portland Food Cupboard). All funds raised and food collected will be shared with all three pantries serving South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth.

“The real difference-makers are the volunteers over at the food pantries,” Eddie Woodin said. “People who go in every week to serve our neighbors; those are the real heroes, alongside our men and women in public safety who are stepping up to respond to the community need with this team effort for our neighbors, especially seniors on fixed incomes, who just can’t make ends meet right now.”

Dwayne Hopkins, director of the Food Cupboard, hopes that residents in the three towns will share what they can to the food drive and fundraiser for the three pantries. “Dropping off a couple extra canned goods might not seem like a big deal or all that impactful,” he said. “But if each of our 55,000 neighbors in South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and Scarborough gave a couple extra cans or boxes of food, you’re talking 100,000 items that our three pantries can distribute to hundreds of neighbors in need. That is super impactful.”

For more information and a convenient link to give, visit www.fooddrive.me.