PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Pineland Farms Potato Company gave out thousands of pounds of food to a huge crowd of residents on Friday at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle.
It was part of a wider giveaway by the Mars Hill-based company in response to the hardships County residents face because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff and volunteers had already served residents in Mars Hill, St. Agatha, Fort Kent and Houlton in what has been a County-wide giveaway.
Dozens and dozens of cars wrapped around the Aroostook Centre Mall waiting to get their boxes of food, which contained numerous egg and potato products weighing a total of about 40 pounds in each box.
A long line of cars waits to get food packages from Pineland Farms at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle on Friday. (David Marino Jr. | Star-Herald)
Pineland Farms Potato Company Plant Manager Shawn Lovely estimated that they would give out more than 54,000 pounds of food in Presque Isle alone.
After days of handing out parcels, Lovely said one positive trend he has seen was people getting food for their elderly neighbors who may be more hesitant to leave home during this pandemic.
Pineland Farms Potato Company Human Resource Manager Laurie Nelson said she was thrilled to be part of the effort. She said people had been appreciative and patient, as they waited in long lines to get their food.
“People are unfortunately being laid off during this time. They’re concerned about feeding their families,” Nelson said. “This is a way that we can give back and help ease it a little bit.”
Gary Tuck of Presque Isle said he hopes to get something like 40 meals out of the parcel, helping to feed himself, his wife and three children.
While Tuck said he did not know anybody who had contracted the virus, that didn’t mean it hadn’t had an impact on him.
“It’s definitely affected us a lot,” Tuck said.
Presque Isle Police had a presence at the event, though there did not appear to be any incidents.
