Donates half ton of food
HOULTON — More than 900 meals will be provided to families in Aroostook County, thanks to the generous people in our own communities.
A total of 1,090 pounds of food was collected and will be distributed to families across Northern Maine that otherwise would not have food to eat. To local families that don’t know where their next meal will come from, that’s pretty valuable.
Throughout the month of November, Katahdin Trust partnered with United Way of Aroostook in an effort to help feed local families in need and keep food pantries in Aroostook County full year-round. Katahdin Trust branches in Aroostook County accepted monetary donations as well as donations of nonperishable food items in collaboration with United Way of Aroostook’s Pantry Project.
According to Sherry Locke, executive director of the United Way of Aroostook, this is an exciting number and the largest pantry project that has been done for the United Way of Aroostook with the idea that Aroostook County Katahdin Trust branches host the portable collection shelves, providing not only food, but hope for adults and children in need throughout our community, and building awareness about the food insecurities facing our neighbors, year-round.
“The rate of Maine households facing food insecurities has been increasing in recent years. According to the USDA, 16.2 percent of our state’s households (that’s over 208,000 people) don’t know where their next meal is coming from — if it’s coming at all,” Locke said.
The website www.feedingamerica.org adds that 35 percent of those households (over 72,800 people) have an income over the qualifying threshold for public assistance, and therefore rely on charitable donations to put food on the table.
The United Way of Aroostook, along with Catholic Charities, will disperse the food that was collected and the monetary donations to 24 food pantries across Aroostook County.
United Way of Aroostook strives to advance the common good by collaborating to create solutions to local problems facing our friends and neighbors. Proudly serving the people of Aroostook County for almost 60 years, United Way of Aroostook is dedicated to improving people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities. For more information about United Way, please visit www.unitedwayaroostook.org.
