For the second year in a row, Aroostook County’s four hospitals are joining forces with the region-wide Feed the County effort to replenish area food pantries in the month of May.
The Hospitals Against Hunger Food Drive began Monday, May 9, and will continue through May 19. Houlton Regional Hospital, TAMC in Presque Isle, Cary Medical Center in Caribou and Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent are collaborating on the drive.
“We serve 24 food pantries throughout The County and each month we distribute over 30,000 pounds of food to the pantries we work with,” said Dixie Shaw, program director of Hunger and Relief Services for Catholic Charities Maine, the only food bank north of Brewer and one of the key partners, along with WAGM-TV and Aroostook Savings and Loan, for Feed The County.
“Our winters are long in Aroostook County, which can be hard on so many of our people who struggle with food insecurity. We are consistently challenged with low food reserves in our warehouses and the need continues to be great for so many,” Shaw said. “We are so pleased Aroostook’s four hospitals have once again come together to draw attention to this cause.”
“One of the best things about living in The County is how we come together as one community to rally around a great cause. Making sure that our friends and neighbors have enough food is definitely a cause we should all get behind,” said TAMC president and CEO Sylvia Getman.
“Neighbor helping neighbor has always been a tradition here so we’re pleased to be part of this important collaborative project,” said Kris Doody, RN, CEO at Cary Medical Center. “We all share the same goal of creating a healthier community and seizing the opportunity to help provide supplies to area food pantries is a big step toward realizing that goal.”
“I invite everyone in the Houlton area to stop by the Hospital and contribute non-perishable food items to help those in need,” said Tom Moakler, CEO of Houlton Regional Hospital. “Houlton Regional Hospital is pleased to join this collaborative effort with the County Hospitals in this important effort to fight hunger.”
“By collaborating with our partners across Aroostook County, we are able to pool more resources and support the work of Catholic Charities so they can be positioned to help more people,” said Peter Sirois, CEO at Northern Maine Medical Center. “We know the can-do spirit of the people in the St. John Valley will come together to make this a success.”
The first-of-its-kind drive was undertaken four years ago by TAMC during the medical center’s centennial celebration as a way to give back to the community that had supported the hospital for a century. Last year the drive became a partnership with all four area hospitals.
For more information, including an up-to-date and a comprehensive drop-off location list, visit www.hospitalsagainsthunger.org.
