PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The mission for staff and volunteers at Aroostook Agency on Aging has not changed during the months of precaution due to COVID-19. In fact, the need for basic nutrition and outreach with community information has increased during this time of staying in place and social distancing.
Every week frozen meals are being prepared and packaged for home delivery around the region. In addition, in partnership with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Catholic Charities of ME, efforts are made to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. Commodity food items are distributed monthly in communities throughout northern Maine.
Thanks to the hard work of people who care about their neighbors, the effort to reduce hunger continues every month and nutritional food is being delivered to older persons and others who are unable to leave their homes to shop on their own.
For those who can leave their home or who have caregivers or helpers who can run errands, food box distributions are set up in towns throughout northern Maine on a monthly basis. Efforts are made to keep the time of month and the locations of these events consistent. If the schedule is changed, staff and volunteers with the Aroostook Agency on Aging make telephone calls to nutrition recipients and their care partners with updated information.
Upcoming January distribution events include:
Tuesday, Jan. 5: Houlton, 10-11 a.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church on 110 Military Street.
Wednesday, Jan. 6: Fort Fairfield, 2-2:30 p.m., St. Denis Catholic Church, 143 Main St; and Mars Hill, 12:30-1 p.m., Rec Center, 10 ACI St.
Thursday, Jan. 7: Fort Kent, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Fort Kent Senior Center, 20 Pine St.; Presque Isle, 10-11 a.m., Riverside Park Pavilion; and Van Buren, 1-1:30 p.m., American Legion, 117 Washington Ave.
Friday, Jan. 8: Caribou, 8:30-10 a.m., Catholic Charities warehouse,14 Old Van Buren Rd.
For a full list of monthly distribution times and locations, or to find out more about home-delivered meals, contact the Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396 or toll free at 800-439-1789.
The mission of the Aroostook Agency on Aging is to improve the quality of life and promote the well-being of older people in our communities. Since 1973, the agency has served as a resource, helping people to access information and services, while also advocating to assure the rights we all value are respected.
