‘Everyone Cares’ dinner program gears up for another season

Contributed photo DINNER TEAM — Members of the Everyone Cares dinner team who will be helping provide free meals to the public on the third Sunday of each month starting Oct. 18 include, from left, Houlton High School senior Isaiha Littleton, 4-H Club President Kate Newman, 4-H Club Vice-President Sarah McGillicuddy, Josh McGillicuddy, 4-H Club Secretary Olivia Cyr and 4-H Club Treasurer Isabel Cyr.

HOULTON — The Everyone Cares dinner program is ready to begin its third year of serving nutritious, hot meals to people in the southern Aroostook County area beginning Sunday, Oct. 18.

The free dinners will take place on the third Sunday of the month this year and will once again be held at the Houlton Rec. Center from 3-4 p.m. The dinners, which will run from October through April, are being held on the third Sunday as opposed to the last Sunday of the month as in previous years to better accommodate the busy holiday season.

Crafty Critters 4-H Club President Kate Newman explained that after meeting with Houlton Parks and Recreation Director Marie Carmichael it was clear that the last Sunday of the month would not work this year.

“Hosting our meals on the last Sunday would have resulted in our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners being provided after the actual holiday,” Newman stated. “We wanted to put on our dinners before these holidays when people need it the most. Realizing it would be too confusing to go back and forth on our dates, we decided to go with the third Sunday of the month throughout the year.”

The Everyone Cares Dinner series provides hearty meals during the coldest months in northern Maine when people may be struggling to stay warm and put food on the table. The suppers, which are coordinated by the Crafty Critters 4-H Club, are also designed to provide a place where people can gather to socialize while enjoying a nutritional home-cooked meal.

Newman said that in addition to her fellow 4-Hers, she hopes to once again recruit students from Houlton High School’s Breaking Ground Program and National Honor Society who have been instrumental in helping to provide, food, service, and clean-up each month. She added that staff members and the school’s student council have also stepped in to help with the program when a need arises.

Anyone needing more information about the Everyone Cares Dinner Program is invited to visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EveryoneCaresDinners or contact Newman at 207-532-0570.