Linda Provencher never thought she’d find herself having to patronize a church food program three or four times a week seeking a free meal.

But the 67-year-old retired registered nurse has learned first-hand that it can happen to anyone.

Volunteer Meg Nadeau, a member of the Winslow High School Honor Society, assists Linda Provencher and John Roy with food they selected at the Evening Sandwich Program held daily at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Waterville recently. Staff photo by David Leaming

Provencher shared her story last week after picking up a lunch at the Evening Sandwich Program at the Universalist Unitarian Church on Silver Street in Waterville where she and dozens of others stood in line to receive meals from 4 to 5 p.m.

“I moved from Waterville to Washington state to care for my brother who has since passed away,” Provencher said. “I moved back here in 2013. I was born and raised here.”

With a small inheritance from her brother, Provencher put a down-payment on a house, where she now lives with her daughter.

“I’ve been house poor ever since,” she said. “I can’t keep up with the bills, and that’s why I come here. It’s saved my skin more than once. It fills a gap that I can’t fill with my retirement.”

A growing number of people are patronizing the sandwich program, which survives on donations of food and cash. Volunteers and retired teachers Connie and Ray Winship and Sue Morrill, president of the sandwich program’s board of directors, said the increase since the program opened 25 years ago has been overwhelming.

In 1990, the program gave out 370 meals and in 2014, it handed out 51,306. Already this year, 21,488 meals have been given out. In May alone, 5,100 meals were given and in June, 6,061.

“The numbers are huge,” Morrill said. “We’ve had about a 15 percent increase since January.”

The Winships, who have been volunteering for the program 17 years, said most of the people who come to get food are unemployed.

“They’re not coming in just because they don’t want to make supper,” she said. “They have no jobs. They’re poor. They’re ill.”

Her husband concurred.

“I think when the recession hit in 2008-2009, a lot of people started coming here for meals and many of them never recovered from it — the economy never really improved,” Ray Winship said.

While the program, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, receives some food from the government, the amount has decreased in recent years, and a grant the program was scheduled to get did not come. Area businesses and churches donate food and-or money, but with the growing number of people needing food, the program is stretched thin. Morrill states, bluntly: “We need cash.”

A long line of men, women and children lined up Monday before the church basement doors waiting to be let in just before 4 p.m. Each person is allowed to take four meals, which they typically carry home to family members.

John Roy, 64, of Waterville, said he is a regular.

“I come here to socialize mostly,” said Roy, who uses a cane. “Six to eight months ago I found this place and I come here about every day. They’re good folks. I’m a single guy. I don’t cook.”

About 2,000 volunteers work in the kitchen at various times preparing soups, sandwiches, desserts and other fare. They are from area churches, high schools, hospitals, colleges, summer camps. Many are retired. There are doctors, lawyers, teachers and even people required to do community service.

In the church kitchen Monday, Rachel Sirois, 18, and Jimmy Fowler, 17, were slathering mayonnaise and mustard on bread making bologna sandwiches one after another. Sirois, a former Winslow High School National Honor Society student who now is enrolled at the University of Maine, has been volunteering on and off for four years in the kitchen. She said she has learned a lot about those less fortunate in her volunteer work.

“It’s really hard, but I really love it,” she said. “Everybody is so grateful. You’ll see smiles on people’s faces, especially the kids. It’s so sad. They’re so sweet and innocent. You don’t think there’s poverty in central Maine, but there is.”

Fowler, a member of the Honor Society at Winslow, said the first time he volunteered at the program, he was enlightened.

“It was mind-boggling,” he said. “I was so blind to all that. It kind of opened my eyes to see what’s hidden. It’s a great experience. It gives you a good feeling of fulfillment, to help.”

Sirois’ mother, Sarah, was volunteering there for the first time, making the soup and enjoying the fact that there were no phones and no iPads in use.

“We’re just enjoying each other’s presence,” she said.

By the end of an hour, about 75 people had walked away with more than 312 meals. Twelve patrons were under 17, according to volunteers. Those receiving food said “thank you” and “God bless you.”

The program, open Sunday through Friday, is directed by Maili Bailey and operated with help from Universalist Church volunteers as well as those from the United Church of Christ Congregational Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, Winslow Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Getchell Street Baptist Church and Church of Latter Day Saints and Thomas, Colby and Kennebec Valley Community colleges.

Morrill and the Winships ask that donations be sent to the Evening Sandwich Program, P.O. Box 2471, Waterville, ME 04901.

Amy Calder has been a Morning Sentinel reporter 27 years. Her column appears here Mondays. She may be reached at acalder@centralmaine.com.

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