The Evening Sandwich Program (ESP)
A program of the Universalist-Unitarian
Church of Waterville
The Evening Sandwich Program
(ESP) provides food for the hungry in the greater Waterville area. Monday through Friday, ESP provides take-out
meals consisting of sandwiches, hot soup, fruit, and dessert.
Teams of volunteers from
area churches and the community prepare, package, and serve the food to
customers between 4-5 p.m. each evening of ESP.
The ESP serves an average of
100 meals each evening it is open.
For more information, or to volunteer,
contact Maili Bailey at 474-7370.
In October of 1990, a group
of people from the Universalist-Unitarian Church of
Waterville came together to talk about how to help the hungry. It was brought to this group’s attention that
the one feeding program in the city was not quite meeting the needs of the
area’s hungry, and some people were seen foraging for food in dumpsters at
night.
The UU group explored ideas
that would be feasible for the Church and came up with the “take-out” evening
meal program.
Sources of food and supplies
were established with the help of local businesses and individuals already
enrolled in a food pantry program, Colby College students, and the generosity
of community members, credit unions, and other organizations interested in
ending hunger.
The first night, ESP
volunteers served 13 meals. Today, the
wholly volunteer staff averages 100 meals an evening. Three other churches, as well as community
members and college students, help the UU church prepare and distribute
food. But the needs continue to
increase.
ESP and the UU Church of
Waterville are meeting the immediate need fairly well. But what does the future hold? How do we address the increasing need? How do we reverse the upward trend of
families needing help to survive? How
can we encourage a move away from dependence on soup kitchens and take-out
programs?
How do we end hunger in
Maine?
We have no answer to this
question. Yet.
The Evening Sandwich Program
(ESP) for the hungry operates four evenings each week. Each person who comes at serving time
(4:00-5:00 p.m.) receives a sandwich and soup to take out. Some people pick up dinner for their families
or friends who also need a meal.
ESP is a community-wide,
interdenominational effort. On Tuesdays,
the UU Church, and volunteers from Colby College and the community, make up the
serving crew. On Wednesdays, the 1st
Congregational Church furnishes the volunteers, with St. Mark’s Church staffing
Thursdays. Friday evenings, ESP is
staffed by volunteers from the UU Church and the general public.
This daily sharing of duties
by area churches and volunteers has kept ESP running smoothly and efficiently
for many years. And it has built a
strong sense of community.
New faces show up at ESP
every day, and we will be here to help. For as long as we need to be.
·
By volunteering
your time and energy
·
By donating the
following soup and sandwich items as often as you can:
Pasta
Baked beans
Tuna
Potatoes
Fresh vegetables
Sandwich spreads
Jams and jellies
Evening Sandwich Program
Universalist-Unitarian Church
69 Silver Street (on the Point)
Waterville, ME 04901
Maili
Bailey, 474-7370