Teamsters plan weekend food drive
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Beginning Friday in southern Maine and continuing through Saturday in Fort Fairfield, individuals will be able to help those in need in Aroostook County by donating nonperishable food items to members of Teamsters Local 340, to benefit Catholic Charities of Maine’s Caribou food bank.
“The Teamsters Local 340 Women’s Committee is once again heading up a statewide food drive to benefit Catholic Charities’ Caribou division,” said James E. Carson, union president.
Through the Feed the County program, Catholic Charities supplies food to 24 food pantries in Aroostook County and maintains their own food bank.
“Last year the Teamsters collected about 25,000 pounds of food and $850 in monetary donations. We hope to exceed last year’s donations,” Carson said.
As with last year’s collection, a tractor-trailer truck will be traversing the state, collecting food along the route, presenting items at the conclusion of the journey to the food bank.
“The Teamsters Joint Council 10 tractor trailer will be traveling the length of the state of Maine, stopping at designated locations to load and fill the truck with nonperishable food donations collected by the members of Teamsters Local 340,” he said.
Carson said the truck will start off in Kittery on July 16 and head north to Fort Fairfield to participate in the 63rd annual Maine Potato Blossom Parade on July 17.
“The festival has been around since 1937, the same year the Teamsters of Maine was founded,” said Carson.
All donations will be delivered to Catholic Charities’ Maine Home Supplies and Food Bank in Caribou following the parade.
