ELLSWORTH — Area restaurants accustomed to feeding hungry patrons are now helping fight hunger county-wide.

Brian Langley, state senator and owner of the Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth, last month sent a letter asking fellow restaurateurs to add an extra box or two to their next food order to donate to area pantries.

“As a restaurant owner I know that it’s easier to put something on your order with a salesman than it is to write a check,” Langley explained.

Checks are welcome, too, of course.

The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

“When I talked to the salesman he said there wasn’t a single person that said ‘No,’” Langley said.

The effort is part of a larger Hancock County food drive to kick off Feb. 28 and continue through the end of March.

The drive is sponsored by Healthy Acadia, Maine Community Foundation, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA) and United Way of Eastern Maine.

The United Way will match each donated item with $1, up to $5,000. Maine Community Foundation has agreed to match that $5,000 with another $5,000, for a total match of up to $10,000.

Want to get involved?

Contact Marjorie Peronto at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension at 667-8212, (800) 287-1479 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Peronto is looking for potential food drop-off points as well as businesses or schools willing to challenge workers or students to donate.

For more community news, pick up a copy of The Ellsworth American.