SUMNER— The new Sumner Food Bank was dedicated during an open house on Sept. 28. The Congregational Church of East Sumner is the host for the Food Bank.

Over the last few years the members have felt the need to remove the food items from the kitchen, Sunday School rooms and pastor’s office. The congregation voted in 2011 to build an addition that would be dedicated to the Food Bank and added $5,000 to their annual budget.

Priscilla Bennett, a church member and long-time bakery manager for Hannaford, obtained a $6,000 grant from Hannaford for the project. The Town of Sumner approved $1,000 at their Annual Town Meeting in 2012. Architect Kathleen M. Chesley of Sumner donated her time and skills and drew up the plans for the addition.

The Hannaford Web page says: “Each year Hannaford gives more than $4 million in charitable donations and sponsorships – funds that go directly to programs that help families and children – and donates more than 8 million pounds of groceries to hunger-relief programs.”

The Sumner Select Board has held two community forums to focus on local industry and self-sustainability with an eye to growing and buying local produce. The townspeople voted to support the building of the addition in 2012 and voted $1000 for food supplies in 2013.

With a $12,000 budget, Jim Durfee, former Region 11 Building Trades instructor, took on the project, and with local volunteer help, the addition was built. Russell Chesley, a local electrician who grew up in the church, helped with the wiring and installation of panels and outlets.

The Spotsylvania, Va., Presbyterian Youth Group and the CCES Youth finished the painting and moving of appliances during VBS in July. The new addition was put into use.

Violet Enman, Food Bank manager, said she has seen a 400 percent increase in patrons and usage over the past two years. She has been able to meet family needs with supplies from Community Concepts, bakery items donated by Hannaford, cash donations, community food collections and produce grown and donated by church member David Tribou. Enman not only prepares sample meals with some of the food items, she also freezes and cans fruits and vegetables for patron use over the winter.

The dedication took place during the church’s Annual Harvest Fest/Barn/Bake Sale. Dave Duguay, manager of the Rumford Hannaford store, and Sumner selectperson Mary Ann Haxton spoke about the importance of community involvement and commitment and the need for local produce. Both are personally dedicated to Maine and the local community. Duguay is an Oxford County Commissioner and Haxton is co-owner/operator of A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm in Sumner and a board member of the Fare Share Cooperative in Norway.

Pastor Howard MacMullen and Council President Joseph Glass emphasized the natural outreach of the church to the community in general and those in need in particular.

Taking part in the dedication were volunteer carpenters Tom Bragg, Mike Dowd and Mike Norton, produce gardener David Tribou, Food Bank manager Violet Enman and assistant Steve Chesley, and Haiti Outreach Ministries director, Pastor Leon Dorleans, visiting from Haiti.

The Food Bank is open to Sumner residents on the first and third Mondays of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. Donations of any kind can be dropped off then or on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. or at the Sumner Town Office during office hours. The church phone number is 388-2610.