Teamsters top last year’s food drive
By Kathy McCarty
Extreme heat and a minor accident didn’t prevent members of Teamsters Union Local 340 from surpassing last year’s food drive to benefit Catholic Charities of Maine, based in Caribou.
“Teamsters Local 340, through its Women’s Committee, headed up a statewide food drive to benefit Catholic Charities of Maine’s Caribou office. Through the Feed the County program, Catholic Charities supplies food to 24 food pantries in Aroostook County and maintains their own food bank,” said James E. Carson, president, Teamsters Local 340.
According to Carson, the Teamsters Joint Council 10 tractor trailer began traveling the length of the state on Friday, July 16, destined to participate in the July 17 Maine Potato Blossom Parade in Fort Fairfield. The trip was delayed briefly on Friday when the truck was involved in a minor accident.
“Our driver was rear-ended in Fairfield when an asphalt truck ran into our truck. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Our trailer, however, sustained damage which caused the floor to bow a bit,” said Traci Place, of Teamsters Local 340’s Presque Isle office.
The truck was able to continue, arriving in Aroostook as planned.
“The truck stopped at 14 designated locations to load and fill the truck with non-perishable food donations collected by the members of Teamsters Local 340 and its employers. The truck headed north to participate in the Fort Fairfield festival parade on July 17,” Carson said.
The parade ended a weeklong festival that dates back to around 1937, the same year the Teamsters of Maine were founded, said Carson.
During the July 17 event, volunteers walked along the parade route, collecting non-perishable goods from spectators, with items then put in the trailer as it traveled through Fort Fairfield.
Several tons of food and over $1,000 in cash were collected to benefit those in need in Aroostook.
“The Teamsters collected 30,000 pounds of food and $1,294 in monetary donations. This marked the second year for the food drive. Donations this year exceeded the 2009 collection,” said Carson.
“We collected 5,000 pounds and almost $400 more than last year,” added Place.
With the help of members, families and friends, the donations were delivered and unloaded at Catholic Charities/Feed the County in Caribou following the parade, said Carson.
A FOOD DRIVE sponsored by Teamsters Local 340 collected 15 tons of non-perishable food items and over $1,000 to benefit Catholic Charities of Maine’s Feed the County program. Pictured from left in Maine Potato Blossom Parade in Fort Fairfield are: Gerry Jean, Vicki Keaton of Aroostook Savings & Loan and Dixie Shaw, director, Catholic Charities of Maine based in Caribou.
