CAMDEN, Maine — A food pantry in Rockland is running an art exhibition and silent auction to raise money to fight food insecurity.
For its third annual ArtFeeds: Artists Against Food Insecurity event, Area Interfaith Outreach Food and Energy Assistance is selling bowls decorated by local artists at Page Gallery in Camden to raise money for the organization’s services.
"It’s just a way to make our community better, healthy, and happy," artist and AIO volunteer Beth Bull said.
Inside Page Gallery, painted bowls cover the walls, each themed around food insecurity.
"We love the idea of the bowls being like a way to hold food and carry this support for the community and the nourishment it can provide," artist and Page Gallery owner Colin Page said.
More than 30 local artists used their creativity to make a difference, each decorating a bowl that will be auctioned off to help AIO fight food insecurity.
"It's a wonderful expression of our community coming together and putting art out there to help," Bull added.
The exhibition also collaborates with the Maine State Prison, where residents crafted the bowls as part of the facility’s industries program—getting the chance to help others while incarcerated.
"We realize food insecurity is a very serious thing, not only locally, but in the state, in the country, and we do whatever we can to help with that," Ken Lindsey, Maine State Prison Industries manager said.
These groups are collaborating with AIO to help them continue providing food and energy to people who need it in Knox County.
One of its key resources is its food pantry, where people can pick out food like in a grocery store.
"It's been a real good experience, it's nice to be able to help them and provide food, meat, you know. So, it's been a great thing for the community having AIO," AIO volunteer Ruth Robbins said.
AIO’s Food Market serves around 9 percent of people in Knox County.
"It's super, you couldn't ask for a better place," AIO member Willard Whitaker said.
Whitaker has been getting food from AIO for ten years. He said it’s a great help for him and so many others experiencing food insecurity.
"Come here, get your food. When everything is so high out there today it makes it rough, especially on a certain income," Whitaker said.
What Whitaker loves about AIO is its welcoming community, reducing the stigma of getting help when you need it.
"If it wasn't for them, I don't know what I'd do," Whitaker said.
The exhibition and silent auction are running through Sept. 28. If you would like to bid on a bowl you can click here.