Teamsters’ food drive
bound for Potato Blossom festival
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Members of Teamsters Local Union 340 are once again making the journey from southern Maine to Aroostook County this week, beginning on Friday, July 19, as they gather non-perishable food items on their way to the Maine Potato Blossom Parade on Saturday, July 20, in Fort Fairfield. Several stops to pick up donations are planned across the state.
“We are collecting non-perishable food and money for Catholic Charities’ ‘Feed the County’ program. The Teamsters’ truck will be coming up I-95 on Friday, destined for the Potato Blossom Parade on Saturday,” said Traci Place, the union’s local representative.
Place said donations will continue to be collected, with volunteers walking with the tractor-trailer truck as it makes its way along the parade route.
“We will be collecting donations at the parade and donations may also be dropped off at the Presque Isle Police Department between now and then,” said Place.
Donations are even more important this year, according to Place.
“Families continue to struggle, given the current state of the economy. In addition to tough economic times, we’ve also lost the support of a long-time donor. Hostess used to provide baked goods. Since they were bought out, we’ve lost a valued contributor to the food drive,” said Place.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can drop items at the PIPD on North Street 24/7 or during the parade Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. Donations are also accepted at any of Catholic Charities’ locations in Caribou, Presque isle or Monticello during regular business hours. Catholic Charities serves over 20 food pantries throughout Aroostook County.
For more information on the food drive, call Place at 764-5576.
