Getting food and good nutrition is something all people need to remain healthy and happy. Whether it is a meal in a dining center, one delivered to the home, or a shelf stable commodity to help extend the monthly food budget, staff at the Aroostook Agency on Aging can connect older persons or those who are disabled to a service that will help meet their needs.
Every week fresh and frozen meals are being prepared and packaged for home delivery around the region. On top of that, in partnership with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and Catholic Charities of ME, efforts are made to improve the health of qualifying 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 to persons who have enrolled in the program.
Thanks to the hard work of volunteers 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 a caregiver or helper who can run errands, food box distributions are set up each month in towns throughout northern Maine. 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.
Persons who are interested in receiving a monthly food box are encouraged to contact our office at 207-764-3396 or 1-800-439-1789 to enroll. The program is also seeking volunteers who would like to make a difference in their community.
Some of the upcoming March distribution events include:
Friday, March 3
CARIBOU — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the parking lot of the Catholic Charities warehouse at 14 Old Van Buren Road. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
Tuesday, March 7
HOULTON — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church on 110 Military Street. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
Wednesday, March 8
MARS HILL — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Mars Hill Community Center at 10 ACI Street. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
FORT FAIRFIELD — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at the St. Dennis Catholic Church parking lot at 143 Main Street. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
Thursday, March 9
MADAWASKA — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 11 a.m. to noon in the Four Seasons Trail Association parking lot at 425 Spring Street. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
PRESQUE ISLE — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Pavilion farmers’ market parking lot at 19 Riverside Drive. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
VAN BUREN — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 1 to 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the American Legion at 117 Washington Avenue. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
Friday, March 10
FORT KENT — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Fort Kent Senior Citizen Center at 20 Pine Street. To enroll in this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789.
