CARIBOU, Maine — NorState Federal Credit Union donated $6,561 to the Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope in Caribou on Friday, Feb. 8, which the organization will use to cover lodging for homeless veterans staying in one of the duplexes on the site.
NorState CEO Susan Whitehead said the donation money comes from fees charged for the use of a coin sorting machine at the branch’s three locations. Members pay a two percent fee to use the machine while non-members pay five percent, and every year the money taken from these fees is given to a charity in the region.
“We first found out about United Veterans of Maine when they were in the early stages of forming the Farm of Hope,” said Whitehead. “After hearing about what they wanted to do, and the difference they wanted to make in veterans’ lives, we thought this was a relationship we wanted to develop.”
Whitehead said the Farm of Hope is serving a “much needed community in the area.”
“Veterans are near and dear to my heart,” she said, “for many different reasons, both professional and personal. I think this facility is very much needed, and we need to support it.”
United Veterans of Maine Treasurer Karen St. Peter said the funds are being used for the Farm of Hope’s “24 for 24” pledge drive.
“Twenty four dollars equals one bed night, and we hope to raise enough for 2,880 bed nights this year,” she said. “With the check from NorState, we’re up to 464.75 bed nights.”
United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau said that four individuals are currently staying at the facility. Combined, they currently have over 200 bed nights at the facility, representing an increase from the past two years to date. In 2018, DeVeau said the facility had 1,053 bed nights.
John DeVeau, president of the United Veterans of Maine, center, thanks NorState Federal Credit Union officials for donating $6,500 to the facility during a Feb. 8 press event. NorState CEO Susan Whitehead is seated to the left of DeVeau and UVM Treasurer Karen St. Peter is standing to the right. (Chris Bouchard)
“It does take a toll,” he said, “and this is definitely a huge help for us.”
During a press event that followed the check presentation, DeVeau emphasized that homelessness can be caused by a variety of factors.
“A lot of vets we come in contact with are, or are about to become, homeless because of one reason or another,” he said. “Homelessness isn’t the root cause [but a symptom of something else] be it mental health or substance abuse. There are a number of things that could cause an individual to become homeless.”
Because of this, DeVeau said his organization has partnered with several local agencies to provide services that the facility itself can not — the Aroostook Mental Health Center, Pines Health, the Aroostook Agency on Aging, and Cary Medical Center.
He added that he is grateful to NorState for making the choice to donate to the Farm of Hope.
“I really want to thank NorState Federal Credit Union for their partnership with us,” he said. “We do receive funding from private individuals who give what they can, but this is a partnership that has been growing and is continuing to show that there are organizations out there willing to step up and really make a difference, and I can’t thank them enough.”
“Veterans are absolutely wonderful people,” said Whitehead. “They’ve made a significant contribution to their country. They have been very selfless and sometimes they come back and don’t necessarily feel that the community understands what they’ve been through, and this is one way of being able to give back.”
Next year, NorState will donate the coin sorter money to three organizations that serve adults with special needs: St. John Valley Associates, Northern Aroostook Alternatives, and the Central Aroostook Association.
DeVeau said that anyone interested in donating to the Farm of Hope can call Karen St. Peter at (207) 492-2190, or stop by the facility on 358 Washburn Street in Caribou.
