Community food box distributions planned

2 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Getting food and good nutrition is something all people need to remain  healthy and happy. Whether it is a meal in a dining center, one delivered to the home, or a shelf stable commodity to help extend the monthly food budget, staff at the Aroostook Agency on Aging can connect older persons or those who are disabled to a service that will help meet their  needs.

Every week frozen meals are being prepared and packaged for home delivery around the region. On top of that, in partnership with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and  Catholic Charities of ME, efforts are made to improve the health of qualifying persons at least 60  years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. Commodity food items are  distributed monthly in communities throughout northern Maine to persons who have enrolled  in the program. 

Thanks to the hard work of people who care about their neighbors, the effort to reduce hunger  continues every month and nutritional food is being delivered to older persons and others who  are unable to leave their homes to shop on their own. 

For those who can leave their home or who have a caregiver or helper who can run errands, food  box distributions are set up in towns throughout northern Maine on a monthly basis. Efforts are  made to keep the time of month and the locations of these events consistent. If the schedule is  changed, staff and volunteers with the Aroostook Agency on Aging make telephone calls to  nutrition recipients and their care partners with updated information. 

Persons who are interested in receiving a monthly food box are encouraged to contact our office  at 207-764-3396 or 1-800-439-1789 to enroll. Upcoming January distribution events include: 

Wednesday, Jan. 5: 

MARS HILL — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 12:30 to  1 p.m. in the parking lot of the old high school on 10 ACI Street in Blaine. To enroll in this program,  please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789. 

FORT FAIRFIELD — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 2  to 2:30 p.m. at the St. Dennis Catholic Church parking lot at 143 Main Street. To enroll in this  program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789. 

Thursday, Jan. 6: 

PRESQUE ISLE — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 10 to  11 a.m. at the Pavilion farmers’ market parking lot at 19 Riverside Drive. To enroll in this program,  please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789. 

FORT KENT — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 9:30 to  10:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Fort Kent Senior Citizen Center at 20 Pine Street. To enroll in  this program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789. 

VAN BUREN — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 1 to  1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the American Legion at 117 Washington Avenue. To enroll in this  program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789. 

Friday, Jan. 7: 

CARIBOU — The regular Senior Commodity Food Program distribution takes place from 8 to 9 a.m.  at the parking lot of the Catholic Charities warehouse at 14 Old Van Buren Road. To enroll in this  program, please contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396/1-800-439-1789. 

The mission of the Aroostook Agency on Aging is to improve the quality of life and promote the  well-being of older people in our communities. Since 1973, the agency has served as a resource,  helping people to access information and services, while also advocating to assure the rights we  all value are respected.