Help Our Neighbors Get to the Food Cupboard

For many of our neighbors, getting food isn't as simple as getting to the grocery store.

A lack of reliable transportation can make it difficult or even impossible to get to the South Portland Food Cupboard. For a neighbor without a car, someone who cannot drive, or a household without another way to get here, transportation can become one more barrier between them and the food they need. We're working to change that.

What Is the Transportation Support Fund?

The South Portland Food Cupboard provides free transportation to and from the Food Cupboard for eligible South Portland residents who receive food from us.

Through this program, we arrange rides using services such as Uber and Lyft, allowing our neighbors to travel directly between their homes and the Food Cupboard during our food distribution hours.

Each registered recipient can use up to five one-way rides per month. A ride to the Food Cupboard counts as one ride, and a ride home counts as one ride.

The average one-way ride to or from the South Portland Food Cupboard costs about $16. Your donation helps cover these rides so that our recipients can access the food they need at no cost to them. There is no cost to the recipient.

Why Does This Matter?

Food access doesn't end with having food available. People need a way to get to it.

Transportation challenges can affect older adults, people with disabilities, households without reliable vehicles, and anyone who may not have a safe or dependable way to travel. When transportation is a barrier, even the most well-stocked food cupboard cannot help a neighbor who cannot get through our doors.

Our transportation program helps remove that barrier.

It means a neighbor can get to the Food Cupboard, choose the food that works for their household, and bring it home with dignity.

Right Now, We're Paying for Every Ride

This program is currently funded directly by the South Portland Food Cupboard. That means every time a neighbor uses this service, SPFC is paying for that ride. And we want to keep it that way: free for the people who need it. But we cannot do it alone.

Your support makes this program possible.

When you donate to our transportation fund, you help us continue providing free rides to neighbors who might otherwise have no way to access the food available at the Food Cupboard. Your gift helps turn "I don't have a way to get there" into "We'll help you get here."

Your Donation Helps Keep Food Within Reach

Every gift helps us cover the cost of transportation and continue removing barriers to food access in our community. Whether your gift helps provide one ride or contributes toward keeping the program available throughout the year, you are helping a neighbor get to the food they need.

Help Us Keep This Program Free

We believe our neighbors should be able to access nutritious food without having to overcome unnecessary barriers. Your donation helps make that possible. Please give today to help keep our neighbors moving, our shelves accessible, and food within reach.

Help Our Neighbors with Transportation - GoGoGrandparent