BIDDEFORD — Now is the season of “good will toward men” and in these tough economic times, putting good will into action is more important than ever, according to Mark Ettinger, director of fundraising for Bon Appetit Community Meals Program.

This year the free meal program is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Bon Appetit was founded during the holiday season of 1989 and its first action was to provide a Christmas meal to those in need, at a Main Street restaurant, said Ettinger.

Volunteers don’t see the anniversary as much cause for celebration, however. Twenty years later, Bon Appetit ”“ which now provides free meals five days a week all year long ”“ is busier than ever, said Ettinger.

The number of patrons being served is on the rise, said Ettinger. Those taking part in the weeknight meals served at the Second Congregational Church, at 19 Crescent St., has increased by 30 to 40 percent, said Ettinger.

On average, he said, the meal program, serves 80 people each day,  he said. No one is turned away.

“The demand is up because so many people are laid off,” he said.

When the organization was first founded, he said, the program served almost all adults who for one reason or another had a hard time supporting themselves.

“Now we’re seeing more of a cross-section of society,” said Ettinger. “We’re seeing a lot of single parents with children ”“ we’re seeing a lot more children, that’s what really break my heart.

“It’s tough to come up with the resources to put out a nutritious meal,” said Ettinger, “but we do it.”

For a lot of our patrons, he said, “it’s the only meal they’ll get that day.”

However, funding the program is becoming increasingly difficult, he said, and the organization is more in need of donations, which are tax deductible, than ever before.

So far this year, the non-profit organization has only managed to raise approximately 60 percent of its $48,000 annual budget.

“We’re desperately in need of contributions because of the economics of our time,” said Ettinger, “which correspondingly has increased the number of our patrons.”

“With the way the economy is going, it’s more important than ever to support the humanitarian efforts” going on in the community, said Donald Lauzier, a vice president and community relations officer at the Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution.

That’s why the bank is making it a priority to support those types local efforts.

“We would like to set an example,” he said.

Any program that feeds or clothes people is seeing a dramatic increase, said Lauzier.

“The demand is growing by the day,” said Lauzier.

As a consequence, the demand on the bank to donate to those programs has increased.

While Bon Appetit usually asks for a contribution from the bank only once a year, this year, said Ettinger, he had to go back a second time with a request for more funding.

Steve Morin, owner of Neil’s Motors in Biddeford, said he donates to Bon Appetit because “It helps people right in the local community.

“You can see the cause and the effect of the donation and how many people it actually feeds.”

“With everyone pinching pennies in these times, that’s one cause that can’t be overlooked,” said Morin.

“People say the worst is over,” said Ettinger, “but we really haven’t seen that.”

— Community Christmas dinners will be held at: Bentley’s Saloon on Route 111 in Arundel from noon to 3 p.m.; Traditions Restaurant at 162 Main St. in Saco from 1-3 p.m.; and the Noel Dinner at St. Martha’s Church at 34 Portland Road in Kennebunk at 2 p.m. Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.