MARS HILL, Maine — For the first time in nearly two months, Pineland Farms Potato Company will give out food boxes in the Presque Isle area this week.
Pineland employees and volunteers will distribute food on a first-come, first-served basis at Big Rock Mountain in Mars Hill on Wednesday, July 8, and in the former Kmart parking lot at Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle on Thursday, July 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The giveaway will be done in partnership with Catholic Charities and the United States Department of Agriculture.
The series of giveaways is the largest charitable giving in The County since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plant Manager Shawn Lovely had said they organized the charitable events — from Houlton to St. Agatha — to connect Pineland with the community and assist those struggling during a time of fear, sickness and recession.
Each box will contain six pounds of mashed potatoes, five pounds of russet potatoes, half a gallon of 2 percent milk and 2½ pounds of cheddar cheese. All residents of The County were invited to the giveaway.
Pineland Farms had already given out more than 300,000 pounds of food in cities and towns across The County since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Maine in March.
A flier put out by Pineland said giveaways would come to “other communities” in the weeks ahead.
