Area Interfaith Outreach

About AIO

We, with the support of our generous community, respectfully provide food and other basic necessities to Knox County households in need.

Our Vision

Our vision is to have a hunger-free community, but until that time AIO is committed to ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry, or is cold in their home.

Our History

Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) was established in 1990 in Rockland, Maine, by area congregations, as one convenient place where people in need can go for nourishing food or energy assistance within Knox County. The founders recognized that there were many people in the community who needed help. AIO is continuing a long tradition of outreach to those in need with its dedication to supporting the community.

AIO is known first and foremost as a food pantry and as such, AIO now serves more than 4,000 households a year, with more than 10,000 individual visits to the food pantry. AIO works with families that are experiencing financial stress, which may threaten discontinuance of their utilities or leave them without fuel for the furnace.

At the request of Good Shepherd Food Bank, AIO launched the Weekend Backpack Program in 2015, to provide nutritious food to children and families on weekends when the school meals aren’t available. On average 340 children and their families participate in the program. Teachers and school nurses testify to the effect that food insecurity has on children’s health, their ability to focus, to sit still or stay awake in class, and to learn, as well as the emotional toll it takes. AIO is here to assist these families.

Programs: 

AIO is working to address food and energy insecurity in Knox County. Working hand in hand with our partner organizations, we strive to provide the services that are vital to a family’s health and well-being. 

AIO’s two core programs—Food Assistance and Energy Assistance—ensure that Knox County residents who are food or energy insecure receive the support they need.

AIO’s Food Assistance programs include the Food Pantry and the Weekend Meal Program (formerly known as the Backpack Program), which ensure access to food for children and families when they need it. 

Our Energy Assistance program provides heating assistance during the winter months, in partnership with local fuel providers. In addition we help prevent electricity disconnections in partnership with CMP.

AIO also partners with other community service organizations to help our clients connect with additional resources they need.