SEARSPORT — The Searsport Give & Take site is now open for the 2023 season at the Carver Memorial Library, at 12 Union St., Searsport.

The Give & Take Program by Waldo County Bounty offers a place where gardeners can give homegrown produce and anyone lacking access to fresh foods can take it at no cost.

“Many home gardeners know what it is like to have zucchini and cucumbers growing out of their ears: now there’s a place where you can take your extra produce and it will be used and appreciated,” said Waldo County Bounty, in a news release.

The Searsport Give & Take site is open 24/7 for anyone who would like to donate or pick up produce. You do not need to leave anything to take the fresh produce. The program aims to improve access to fresh foods for all people.

This year, the program requests that people who donate fruits and vegetables record their donation in a notebook at the Give & Take shed.

“For the health and safety of our community, please only donate homegrown fruits and vegetables, seeds, seedlings, or gleaned farm produce,” said WCB. “Please do not leave store-bought food, home canned goods, badly bruised or near-rotting produce, or fallen apples or other produce collected from the ground. Additionally, do not leave meat, eggs, cash, clothing, or other household items.” 

Each year, Waldo County Bounty hosts 15+ Give & Take sites across Waldo County with the help of local volunteers. If you would like to learn more about the Give & Take program or sign up to volunteer, visit waldocountybounty.org.

About Waldo County Bounty

A hunger relief organization founded in response to the pandemic, Waldo County Bounty works to ensure that everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food by collaborating with local farmers, organizations, and community members towards an equitable food system. Waldo County Bounty gleans and buys food from farms for food pantries—a win-win for local farms and hunger relief agencies—and it provides material and educational support to home gardeners. In 2022, Waldo County Bounty distributed 42,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious foods in Waldo County. For more information, visit waldocountybounty.org and like and follow Waldo County Bounty on Facebook and Instagram.