LACO Provides Service to Community‏

LACO During the Holiday Season

Story & Photo By:  Connor Craig

PWS Student Media Group Reporter

Members of the LACO program at MTM Center in Lisbon Falls assisting families in the community

left to right  Pat Ringrose, Food Bank Director

Carol Day, Clothing Bank Director

Jim Duley, Shopping Coordinator

Lisbon - The LACO program (Lisbon Area Christian Outreach) is a local food pantry which serves the communities of Lisbon, Durham and Bowdoin.  On Saturday, December 19, on assignment for the Student Media Group at Philip W. Sugg Middle School, I had the opportunity to take a tour of the MTM facility and meet with Mrs. Carol Day, Clothing Bank Director.  Mrs. Day shared that LACO receives support through matching grants and the assistance of Good Shepherd Food Bank.  Food is picked up at the Good Shepherd Bank each week by volunteers.  Members of the community can come and sign up to receive food they only need to show proof of residency and a picture ID.   Families are entitled to twelve visits a year to the food bank.  Each visit supplies a family with a week’s worth of food.  If someone is in need of more food, they can extend the times they can come by going to a local minister or their general assistance director at their town office.

During the interview Mrs. Day shared how supplies were running this holiday season.  “Due to the help of the boy scouts, local schools and the local businesses, they usually do a lot better during the holiday season.”  Compared to last year, the need for help by families increased.  “As of the end of November, 1839 families visited the food bank, 537 more than this time last year,” according to Mrs. Day.    “LACO has served 3405 adults, 936 more than last year, and 1907 children this year, compared to 673 this time last year.”   Every $1.00 donated to the food bank equates to  $5.00 worth of food.  Asked how members of the community could help during this season, Mrs. Day responded “If people have coats, hats, gloves, scarves, or even boots to donate, this would be the best time, it is very cold during this time of year. “  Hours of operation at the MTM Center in Lisbon are Wednesdays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.  FMI call 353-8019 or 353-6002.