CARIBOU, Maine — Cary Medical Center has joined a County-wide effort to combat food insecurity. The hospital will partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) in support of their Stamp Out Hunger campaign on Saturday, May 12.
Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development at Cary, said the letter carrier event has always been held during the time of National Hospital Week, and this year the hospital chose not to duplicate the effort and work to help promote the project.
The NALC has conducted the Stamp Out Hunger campaign for more than 25 years. Last year the effort collected over 71 million pounds of food, delivering supplies to food pantries, homeless shelters and food banks in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Cary will support the effort by generating public service announcements and sending reminder letters to all hospital staff and staff with Pines Health Services. The hospital’s Facebook page will support the event. Flagg said reaching out in this way should generate some enthusiasm among the hospital and Pines family.
“Between Cary and Pines we employ several hundred people. Counting that number, plus family and friends and the thousands of people who visit us on Facebook or our website we should really have an impact,” he said.
“We will encourage all those who see the story on Facebook to share the information with their friends creating a kind of viral message for The County.”
Flagg said it is a great time for hospitals to address issues like food insecurity, and applauded the work of other County hospitals.
“It is great that Houlton Regional Hospital, The Aroostook Medical Center and Northern Maine Medical Center are leading projects to respond to hunger issues in their own communities. Now, with all four hospitals engaged in the effort we can really making a difference.”
