A larger facility for the South Portland Food Cupboard is opening as demand for food assistance remains high, with a longtime community partner contributing fresh funding to support the expansion.
At a ribbon-cutting this week for the new food pantry at 443C Western Ave, Town & Country Federal Credit Union announced a $5,000 donation to the nonprofit.
The contribution will help the pantry serve more people in South Portland and the neighboring communities.
“This contribution means so much — not just because of the financial support, but because of what it represents,” said Dwayne Hopkins, executive director of the South Portland Food Cupboard, pointing to the credit union’s long history with Town & Country. “This gift directly supports our ability to serve more people in a more accessible, welcoming space.”
The cupboard started in 1997, initially operating out of St. John the Evangelist Church in South Portland. In 2013, the pantry moved to about 4,000 square feet of space at 130 Thadeus St. in South Portland.
Facing a rise in demand, the nonprofit decided it was time to move to a larger space.
The new site features multiple loading docks to accommodate trucks of varying heights, making food rescue and distribution safer and more efficient. Additional freezers and refrigerators, along with updated transport carts and stainless steel tables, enable the cupboard to process food in accordance with food-safe protocol.
