PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A new free sand bucket program for seniors age 60 and older has been implemented by the Presque Isle Rotary Club in partnership with the Aroostook Agency on Aging.
Around $200 was given for the sand bucket program from Trinity 130 AF&AM, a masonic lodge located in Presque Isle, and the statewide Masonic Charitable Foundation matched the donation two-to-one with $400.
Expansion for the sand bucket program called the Safe Steps: Sand and Salt for Seniors has reached rotaries in Mapleton, Castle Hill, Chapman, Easton and Presque Isle, with the empty sand buckets being filled halfway at each town’s Public Works departments. The sand gets sprinkled on walkways and steps, but isn’t intended for driveways.
“We delivered the first round in October, 80 buckets, so that means we have 80 buckets to do a second round,” said Presque Isle Rotary Projects Chairperson Ginny Joles.
The Presque Isle Rotary came up with Safe Steps during its committee meeting to offer a service no one else was providing in the area.
“All of these projects are Rotary-led, and Rotary partnerships, but it’s also partnerships within the community,” Joles said.
Presque City Council approved Safe Steps at its Aug. 3 meeting. The empty buckets are half filled by Public Works with the Presque Isle Rotary managing the volunteers who distribute the sand buckets.
Aroostook Agency on Aging is providing the Rotary with a database of seniors in need of the Sand and Salt for Seniors. Around 40 empty buckets for the sand were donated by Tractor Supply and Lowes, and 80 empty buckets from Harbor Freight.
Around 25 Rotarian and community volunteers deliver the sand buckets to residents who have registered for the program. So far, 80 buckets of sand have been delivered in Presque Isle, Easton, Mapleton, Castlehill and Chapman.
“We call it Safe Steps and it’s all about helping seniors be safe in their homes,” Joles said.
The second round of sand buckets is going out to towns in Aroostook on Dec. 9 with the Masonic Lodge coming up with more funds for seniors to invest in Safe Steps, according to Joles. About 25 requests have been made for a second round of sand buckets for the Safe Steps program.
The Washburn Rotary is interested in adapting the Safe Steps model for its town from Washburn Public Works to senior residences around the town. Seniors can register in Washburn by calling 207-455-8485, or the Washburn Rotary Facebook page.
Rotaries located in Fort Kent and Mars Hill have also adopted the Safe Steps for their town. For Caribou, Safe Steps sand and salt is distributed through Cary Medical Center and can be reached at 207-200-4147.
“Most every community offers it free or a nominal fee for people to come to their sand and salt piles to fill up their own buckets,” Joles said.
The Presque Isle Rotary has 60 more buckets — not all filled with sand — ready to be used. Considerations to bring the Safe Steps for seniors back for next year are being discussed between the Presque Isle Rotary and the state Masonic Lodge.
Requests for a free bucket of sand and salt can be made by calling 207-762-8461, and registering on the Presque Isle Rotary’s website.
