Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Stone Soup pantry finds new home

By DINA MENDROS
Staff Writer

BIDDEFORD — Just days before the non-profit organization was slated to be evicted, Stone Soup Food Pantry finally found a new home.

“It’s such a relief,” said Stone Soup Co-director Kathy Duke.

Although it won’t be as close to its current Bacon Street location as volunteers had hoped, the 316 Main St. location is still within walking distance for many who frequent the food pantry. It is also on the local bus route.

The new location was discovered by a Stone Soup client who knows the property owner, Bill Danton, president of Danton Enterprises. Danton said he is glad the location works for the food pantry.

“Food is a basic necessity and people are finding it more difficult to buy it,” said Danton.

He said his late mother, who owned a restaurant in Old Orchard Beach, used to give extra food from the restaurant to the local community at the end of the summer. When people in need came to the family restaurant but couldn’t pay, “my mother never refused anyone who was hungry,” said Danton.

“We are so grateful these people are working so well with us,” said Jodi Bissonnette, the treasurer for Stone Soup and executive director of the York County Food Rescue program, which provides food to 43 food pantries throughout York County.

“Lots of people say they’re willing to help, but say ‘not in my backyard,’” said Bissonnette. “(Danton) understands about people’s needs. Some people just don’t get it.”

JEFF LAGASSE/Journal Tribune Bill Danton and his son, Peter, stand inside a now-empty space at 316 Main Street in Biddeford that will soon be the new home for the Stone Soup food pantry. Danton owns the building and will be leasing it to the pantry beginning later this month. Pantry volunteers expect to have the pantry available to clients at the new location by Monday, May 26 and possibly earlier.

She said Danton is being very generous in terms of the lease, which was signed Tuesday.

Duke said that she, her co-director Helen Lewis, and many others had been searching feverishly for a new location since learning that Stone Soup had to move, and given only one month’s time to find a new site.

St. Andre’s church offered a temporary home for the pantry at its Bacon Street rectory, but the organization would have had to move from there in the fall.

Duke said she was informed on Tuesday that the organization could have a one-week extension on its lease at the current site. This will allow them to still operate the food pantry today and Monday, May 19, as well as have time to move into their new location. The group expects to move in next week.

It’s uncertain whether Stone Soup will be open to serve clients on Wednesday, May 21. However, it will be providing food at the new location on Monday, May 26.

— Contact Dina Mendros by calling 282-1535, Ext. 324, or via e-mail at dmendros@gwi.net.