AIO Food and Energy Assistance

06/15/2026

Dear friends, thank you for voting for AIO as one of the important non-profits in the Community. We don't take this recognition for granted, and we accept it humbly. We won't let you down. Thank you!!

Local nonprofits among recipients of 2026 Community Matters More grants Sat, 06/13/2026 - 9:00am Four local nonprofit organizations are among the recipients of 2026 Community Matters More grants funded through Bangor Savings Bank Foundation. More than $155,000 in funds were awarded to 44 nonprofit...

06/12/2026

Interested in volunteering at AIO? Join us for our Volunteer Orientation!
Our next orientation is this coming Thursday, June 18th, from 2-4pm.

In the volunteer orientation, you'll get to meet other new volunteers, learn more about AIO and ways to volunteer, receive a tour of AIO's main building and the AIO Annex, and complete required volunteer forms.

Can't make that one? Our Volunteer Orientations happen the third Thursday of every month.

If you have questions or would like to sign up in advance, please visit: https://www.aiofoodpantry.org/volunteer or contact Ariel at [email protected]

06/04/2026

"Approximately 41% of Knox County residents belong to a group commonly referred to as ALICE: asset-limited, income-constrained, but employed. With local unemployment at just 3.1% and 76% of AIO’s clients aged 59 or younger, he noted that most individuals seeking assistance from AIO are working. “Without savings, everyday occurrences like needing four new tires on a car or replacing a hot water heater cause people to fall off a financial cliff and seek help,” Kearl said."

Thank you to the Midcoast Villager for continuing to highlight the challenges of food insecurity in the Midcoast.

Federal cuts have led far more residents to seek food assistance.

06/01/2026

Over the last 9 years, the MacDougal Community Garden in Rockland has donated fresh produce to AIO. Yesterday morning AIO and MacDougal volunteers worked on getting the garden prepped for planting and an expansion for individual garden beds.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can help AIO grow food, visit our volunteer page. To learn more about the garden expansion being done by the City of Rockland, visit: https://rocklandmaine.gov/530/MacDougal-Community-Garden

05/29/2026

Help grow food for AIO! Gardening season is upon us and AIO volunteers help grow fresh veggies in the beds in front of our building, as well as at the Community Garden in MacDougal Park!

Group gardening days will be ongoing beginning 5/21 at AIO on Thursdays 8am to 10am and Sundays at MacDougal Park (the start date is TBD, dependent on soil conditions). And there are other opportunities to help in the gardens throughout the week.

If you would like join our volunteer team sooner, please contact Ariel at [email protected]

05/27/2026

Long time AIO volunteer and ArtFeeds artist Beth Bull is spreading the AIO name and mission—here she is in Portugal!

05/21/2026

Just another Morning at AIO!
* Shaw’s food rescue * Good Shepherd food delivery * AIO garden planting * Weekend Meals food delivery
* pickup surplus firewood from a community member, deliver it to another community member in need *finalize support for Rockland Warming Center for 26/27 *and deliver gas grill to CRCC for Memorial Day BBQ!