Dead River launches drive to feed families

Company pledges up to $10,000 in matching food, fuel assistance dollars for every pound of non-perishable food donated
    HOULTON — With the shelves at Catholic Charities’ food pantries across Aroostook County all but bare, and the home heating season just weeks away, Dead River Company is launching a County-wide effort to help families in need of food and fuel assistance.
    Beginning Sept. 1 and continuing through Dec. 31, 2012, as part of its Share the Warmth effort, Dead River Company is inviting the community to bring non-perishable food items to any of its nine Dead River Company offices throughout Aroostook County. For each pound of food donated, Dead River will donate $1 for food and $1 for fuel — up to $10,000 — to Catholic Charities of Maine, which will distribute the food and fuel assistance to families in need.
    “Share the Warmth is food and fuel assistance, warming on the inside, warming on the outside,” said Bob Moore, president and CEO of Dead River Company. “Nearly 15 percent of Mainers are struggling with hunger.  In Aroostook County, the hunger rate is 16 percent. And right about now, people are feeling the chill in the early morning. Winter’s coming. We promised earlier this year that we’d be doing more regarding food and fuel assistance and we’re delivering on that promise.”
    Wally Tapley. Dead River Company’s district manager in Houlton, added, “Hunger is no game. It’s something some families live with year-round and for six months of the year they’re also struggling to stay warm. This is a way for us to help those in need.”
    Catholic Charities, which supports 25 food pantries throughout Aroostook County, will distribute the non-perishable food that is brought to Dead River Company offices as well as Dead River Company’s cash donation for food and fuel assistance.
    “Last year, our pantries helped more than 28,000 people here in The County,” said Dixie Shaw, program director at Catholic Charities Maine. “This year, the need to help families with the basic needs of food and fuel is even greater. Dead River Company’s efforts are essential to our being able to meet those needs. We’re excited and grateful that Dead River Company is joining with our communities to help make life a little easier for so many of our neighbors.”
    Earlier this year, Dead River Company donated $150,000 to the Good Shepard Food Bank for the purchase of a tractor-trailer truck used to transport donated food across the state, as well as $50,000 to New Hampshire Food Bank, and $100,000 to fuel assistance programs across New England.