LP donates 2,500 pound of goods to St. Mary’s Food Pantry

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Thanks to a generous donation by Louisiana Pacific, the St. Mary’s Food Pantry will be able to provide more meals for area families.
    “In these difficult economic times, many donors are finding it necessary to cut back on charitable giving at the same time non-profits in our communities are seeing increased demand for services,” said Ryan Bushey, human resource manager at LP. “In recognition of this situation, the LP Foundation is working with all the communities in which they have mills and operation centers to give to qualifying organizations in the community.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
CHARITABLE DONATION – Louisiana Pacific, with the help of Grand Rental Station, donated nearly 2,500 pounds of food to the St. Mary’s Food Pantry last Tuesday. Taking part in the presentation are, from left, Carisa Ingalls, volunteer; Greg Mills, manager of Grand Rental Station; Robert Rockwell, LP safety specialist; Ryan Bushey, LP human resource manager; Mildred Madigan, Food Pantry coordinator; and Michael Brown, volunteer.
    LP Houlton supported the St. Mary’s Food Pantry with a donation of $1,000 from the LP Foundation. That money was used to purchase nearly 2,500 pounds of food for the pantry.
    According to Bushey, Houlton has a high unemployment rate, which leads to difficult decisions for many families every day.
    “The St. Mary’s Food Pantry does a tremendous job assisting many families in our community by providing healthy food for families every week,” he said.
    Mildred Madigan, Food Pantry coordinator, said the donation was sorely needed.
    “This donation comes at a wonderful time for us,” she said. “During the summer, with children at home, we have more calls for food. Children do not have the option of school breakfast and lunch in the summer months, so we have many more calls for families with children.”
    “This is the second year LP has given to the St. Mary’s Food Pantry,” Bushey said. “We have leveraged our monies by teaming up with Grand Rental Station and using their box truck to drive to the food distribution warehouse in Brewer and purchasing food at a great discount. This is the second consecutive year the LP Foundation has given to the St. Mary’s Food Pantry and we hope for this to be an annual gift to help support one of the greatest resources we have in our community.”
    The food pantry is open by appointment only. Individuals may call 532-9122 Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. to set up an appointment to pick up food, between 1-3 p.m.