PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — For 21 consecutive months, members of the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge No. 1954, have volunteered to assist the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging and Catholic Charities of Maine Hunger and Relief Services in distributing boxes of food to qualified seniors.
Each 30-pound box contains juice, canned fruit and vegetables, protein, dairy products, rice, potato, soup, peanut butter and other available, miscellaneous commodities.
In addition to its usual monthly donation of volunteer labor, this month the Presque Isle Elks donated $5,500 to Catholic Charities of Maine to help alleviate hunger.
Dixie Shaw, program director of Hunger and Relief Services for Catholic Charities of Maine, and also a member of the Presque Isle Elks, said, “Receipt of this donation from the Presque Isle Elks was particularly appreciated by Catholic Charities at this time, on account of the significant increase in the need of seniors, as well as others, for food assistance.”
The need is a result of the substantial increases in the price of most food items, as well as the skyrocketing prices of gas and heating fuel, which have made it very difficult for individuals to balance their budgets, Shaw said.
Food is the budget item which is most often reduced to unhealthy levels.
“This donation by the Presque Isle Elks will enable Catholic Charities to continue its assistance, as well as help those who find themselves in need for the first time on account of the unusual circumstances presently existing,” Shaw said.
