In Hancock County, where one in six children consistently experiences hunger, the Bar Harbor Food Pantry that began many years ago in a church basement has taken a transformative step. It purchased the former home of a beloved local restaurant and reopened it as a permanent pantry in the heart of town.

Why? Because need increased substantially. In 2022, the pantry saw 20-35 people a day. By 2024, numbers had grown to 48-100 people per day.

Reconfigured to feel like a small grocery store, the new pantry is more than three times the size of its former space. Renovations expanded cold storage; made restrooms ADA-accessible; and created space for sorting, shopping, and offering consistent, reliable service to more people than ever before.

“This new space is more than a building, it’s a symbol of stability and care for those we serve,” said Tom Reeve, the pantry’s executive director. “We want the community to feel proud of this place and proud of what we’re building together.”

Ongoing local fundraising will repay the Genesis loan that helped buy the building, as contributors step up to invest in this local resource that strengthens community life in a seasonal, high-cost economy at the heart of “vacationland” Maine.

In this space serving workers, retirees, families, and children, the pantry’s core belief—that no one should go hungry—is visible. For clients like Colleen, being able to rely on dependable service in an atmosphere that respects clients’ dignity “peels away one layer of worry. And I will never forget that. Ever.”