The community's response to the requests made recently in this newspaper for assistance to help stock the Boothbay Region Food Pantry has been terrific. The Pantry's directors heartily thank all of you who have donated food or money to help meet the rising need for food assistance in the region.

The Food Pantry plans again this year to give out Christmas food boxes to people in need of help who sign up in advance. The boxes will contain everything needed for a special holiday meal - turkey, chicken, or ham, a generous supply of fresh and frozen vegetables, cranberry jelly, dinner rolls, and a dessert mix. We gave out more than 80 Thanksgiving boxes last month and expect to give out at least as many on Saturday, December 22 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Although we don't want to appear to be "looking a gift horse in the mouth," the directors also would like to give the public a few tips on ways to make your future donations even more welcome than they already are.

1. If your organization is planning a food drive to benefit the Food Pantry, please let the pantry's president know when you would like to deliver the food, so that we can arrange for one or more directors to be on hand to receive, sort, and shelve your donations. Don Schuman is the pantry's president, and his telephone number is 882-4854.

2. Please check your donations before delivery to be sure that the boxes have not been opened and that all boxes, cans, and packages of food have not passed their sell-by dates.

3. Items particularly needed now are five pound bags of sugar and flour, cooking oil, coffee, juice, and canned meats.

4. As always, donors are welcome to leave one or two bags of food at the pantry without calling in advance. Monetary gifts may be sent to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry at P.O. Box 63, East Booth-bay, ME 04544.

The Boothbay Region Food Pantry is located in the lower level of the Congregational Church at One Eastern Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. It is open every Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and is accessible to people in wheelchairs. If you can't make it to regular open hours or if you have a food emergency, call the church at 633-4757, Monday through Friday. If the church office is closed, call Don Schuman at 882-4854.

The pantry serves the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb. New clients should provide proof of residency, such as a recent utility bill, lease, or property tax bill.