Judy’s Pantry

We have changed our operations at Judy’s Pantry and we are now open on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 3-5PM.  Please note that to ensure client safety we will limit the numbers inside of the church at any one time.  All produce will be pre-bagged.
For eligibility, you need to be a Cape Elizabeth resident and also need to sign a short form.  We are here to help and if you have any questions, please contact bethowens1@gmail.com

Judy’s Pantry is named to honor the memory of  Judy Simonds, whose passion was gardening. Judy had been a Cape resident since 1971 before passing away in 2010. The Pantry has been operating in the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church since the summer of 2010.

Volunteers preparing the pantry on a Tuesday afternoon.

Produce donations come from several Cape farms and two community gardens in the Cape —  Gull Crest and at Maxwell’s Farm on Spurwink Ave.  Both gardens participate in the Maine Harvest for Hunger program. There are two plots at each garden that gardeners take care of and harvest for donations to the pantry.  Additional donations come from other gardeners’ plots, as well as from some Cape residents.

Several Cape farms donate produce, including Jordan’s Farm on Wells Road, Green Spark Farm on Fowler Road, Alewive’s Brook Farm on Old Ocean House Road, Pat Bothel on Ocean House Road and Imelda’s Garden on Spurwink Ave.

The pantry is helping 18-22 Cape families each distribution. In addition to the fresh produce, non-perishable items also are available. The non-perishables are supplied through the Wayside Food Program, various food drives, and individual donations. Our community has been generous in their offerings:

Members of the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church

  • Resident donations in the Lions Club’s box in the IGA lobby and at the church
  • The Cape Lions Club
  • The South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary
  • And from generous local residents.

To help decide how best to use the wide selection of fresh produce, recipes are occasionally available when the pantry is open on Tuesday afternoons

The Pantry began offering special selections in 2012 for Thanksgiving. The week before Thanksgiving, special grocery bags, designed by Cape Girl Scout troops, are filled with produce for the holiday, including fresh apples, carrots, onions, squash and potatoes. In addition, bins of Thanksgiving food including stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, gravy, soups, Jello, salad dressings, sparkling cider, and more are available at the pantry, thanks to a Cape food drive organized by Jen Tinsman and Amy Lombardo.  Also available that day are pumpkin and cranberry breads, cranberry chutney and some other holiday treats. A gift certificate for a turkey also is provided.

Pantry volunteers with Thanksgiving gift bags and bins willed with Thanksgiving fixings.

Thanksgiving sweet and savory breads for Pantry clients

Thank you to the farmers, gardeners and pantry volunteers and others who have meant so much to so many!

Thank you for your support and your understanding during these challenging times!