PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) recently received a generous donation from Erin Parisien, the owner of Aroostook Beef Company of New Canada.
The donation of local beef will be available to feed many people in need through the Community Cupboard at ACAP’s Presque Isle office.
Parisien heard about the Community Cupboard through local media and decided she would like to help people with food insecurity issues. She reached out to ACAP through its Facebook page and offered the donation.
“I guess I just liked the idea of helping people who are hungry,” explained Parisien.
ACAP staff met her at the Presque Isle Farmers Market at The Aroostook Center Mall one recent Saturday morning, where she sells her beef, to pick up the donation. She also sells her products at her farm store located at 96 Market Street in Fort Kent.
“ACAP was very excited to receive this donation, it will go a long way in helping people with food insecurity issues this winter,” said Dawn Roberts, Community Education Specialist for ACAP. “Donations like this truly make life better for the citizens of Aroostook County.”
Located outside the main entrance of ACAP at 771 Main Street, the Community Cupboard is a portable food pantry that community members stock, and is accessible to those who need it 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Anyone can stop by to stock supplies of food; and anyone in need can access what is available.
Recently, supported through funding from the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EMHS and the Partnership to Improve Community Health, ACAP purchased a small chest freezer to store donations of frozen items.
To donate to the Community Cupboard, or for help with food insecurity issues, contact ACAP Case Management Services at 764-3721.
In addition to helping families with access to food, the Case Management services at ACAP also include direction to other important programs that families may find helpful, including heating assistance, jobs, housing, childcare, health insurance assistance and more.
