Distribution for the drive-thru setup at The Country Pantry in Clark Mills begins at 9:30 a.m.
Three hours before, people begin lining up their cars to enter the parking lot of the Church of the Annunciation, which allows the food pantry use of its basement.
Since the pandemic began in mid-March, the pantry that serves the Clinton and Westmoreland school district areas has seen a record number of patrons.
Pantry Director Mary Zimbler said it’s been non-stop of people needing food to get their families through a month.
Same story for the Waterville Area Food Pantry. Sue Getman said the number of people needing a supply each month has doubled since March.
Not only are local food pantries contending with more clients, but have to do it under difficult circumstances because of coronavirus regulations. Neither place can let people into their facility, and the number of volunteers who can enter is also limited.
Since March people have not been allowed into the Waterville pantry, which is in the basement of Schoolhouse Apartments. Only Getman, Roberta White and Mary Beth Plourde can go in there to maintain the shelves.
Those duties have also increased to packing boxes and making deliveries each month. Each woman takes a week with 50 clients to make sure the …