Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – McCain Foods USA, Inc. is known for its french fries, but for the American Red Cross, the company is known for much more.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
Dan Paradis, plant manager of McCain Foods USA, Inc.’s Easton facility, turns over the keys to a $75,000 Emergency Response Vehicle (known as ERV) to Joyce Knorr, branch manager of the American Red Cross – Pine Tree Chapter; and Pine Tree Chapter Executive Director Suzan Bell during a ceremony held Jan. 22 at the Aroostook Centre Mall. Over the course of the next decade, McCain Foods USA plans to donate to the Red Cross an Emergency Response Vehicle to each of the local communities in which they operate.
Last Tuesday, Dan Paradis, plant manager of McCain Foods USA, Inc.’s Easton facility, turned over the keys to a $75,000 Emergency Response Vehicle (known as ERV), that is designed to be a mobile service center capable of distributing food, beverages, materials and equipment anywhere it is needed in Aroostook County during an emergency.
A state-of-the-art vehicle, ERV is complete with GPS, radio communication and logistical capabilities.
“In 2006, McCain Foods USA formed a national partnership with the American Red Cross, in part to increase the impact our business could have from a charitable giving standpoint across the U.S., and also locally in the communities that we operate in,” said Paradis. “This relationship with the American Red Cross provides us the opportunity to give both nationally and locally as needs dictate.
“Also in 2006, McCain began a national ‘Do Something Good’ campaign. This campaign provides matching company funds for all employee dollars donated to the American Red Cross in response to local and national crisis-type events that require relief intervention,” he said. “Our relationship with the American Red Cross gives both our organization and our employees an opportunity to combine our giving efforts.”
Paradis told those who attended the presentation at the Aroostook Centre Mall food court that over the course of the next decade, “McCain Foods USA plans to donate to the Red Cross an Emergency Response Vehicle to each of the local communities in which we operate.”
“The American Red Cross – Pine Tree Chapter is the first recipient of McCain’s response vehicle donation. This ERV can now be used throughout Aroostook County and adjoining areas,” he said. “It will serve the local community and local families … including those of our employees in time of crisis and need.”
ERV is capable of making deliveries to people isolated by storms or power outages, and completing trips to investigate the welfare of residents during those emergencies.
“There have been four nationally declared disasters in Maine … two of them were in Aroostook County,” said Pine Tree Chapter Executive Director Suzan Bell. “This vehicle – at a time of a large disaster such as an ice jam that could flood Fort Fairfield – will be able to go out in the community, home to home, to make sure that people are OK.
“In the state of Maine, people do not typically go to a shelter; many people shelter at home, and we need to be able to reach out to those folks and make sure that they’re all right, that they have food, that they have power, and that they’re getting water,” she said. “I can’t thank McCain Foods enough. This vehicle will make a difference in the lives of many.”
Mike Brown II, disaster volunteer chair for the Pine Tree Chapter, flew to Orlando, Fla. in December with another volunteer and drove ERV back to Aroostook County.
“The vehicle was custom built at Wheeled Coach Industries in Winter Park, Fla. for the Red Cross,” said Brown. “It’s a 2007 … brand new right off the lot, and it took about six months for the box to be built onto the back of it. There’s no factory that actually builds it, they do it all by hand.
“It took about five days to drive ERV back,” he said, “because we’re only allowed to drive 10 hours a day, and we’re not allowed to drive at night if we can help it.”
Brown said the vehicle is set up for mass mobile feeding.
“The way we have it set up is that for the first day or two, we’d be using fast food restaurants to provide the meals. We’d go to whichever restaurant would be willing to donate food to help us out, and we would store it in our containers that we can put hot meals in and they will stay hot for up to 10 hours,” he said. “It would be like a fast food restaurant on wheels.
“We have paper plates, paper cups, Styrofoam cups, containers that can keep beverages hot or cold for eight to 10 hours, napkins, gloves, serving utensils … everything we would need to feed a lot of people,” said Brown. “After two days, we would receive national help, and there are mobile kitchens that would be brought to us … it’s an 18-wheeler that’s set up as a kitchen that has ovens and stoves.”
Brown said ERV can be used for more than serving food.
“If we’re not using it for that, we can take the containers out, fold up the tables, and use ERV as a cargo vehicle, so we can supply brooms, mops and trash bags to help with cleanup needs,” he said. “We can also use it as a mobile office. We have a heater that will keep the vehicle warm, so if we have a disaster or a house fire, we can bring the family in, keep them warm, while we go through the paperwork and try to assess what needs they have and make sure their needs get met.”
There are presently three drivers, while two more are waiting to take a defensive driving test.
“We have several more that are coming on board saying they’re interested in taking the course,” said Brown, noting the vehicle is currently being housed at the Aroostook County branch office on State Street. “In the wintertime, we’re looking at having the ERV housed in a building at the Industrial Park. Wherever it ends up, we need to be able to access it within one hour, so that’s a big hindrance in being able to store it in a building.”
Brown said he’s pleased that McCain Foods “stepped up to the plate” to provide the American Red Cross with the emergency response vehicle.
“It means that we can serve the community a lot better than we were,” he said, “and reach a lot more people. This is something that we’re very fortunate to have and we’re glad to have, but we hope we never have to use it.”
Joyce Knorr, branch manager of the American Red Cross – Pine Tree Chapter, said having an ERV in the county “makes the Pine Tree Chapter more able to meet the disaster response of people in all 65 Aroostook communities.”
“We are so appreciative of this generous gift,” she said, “and the continual support which McCain Foods provides.”
Last week’s presentation also included live music from area band, Turning Point, refreshments provided by Tim Hortons and the mall.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
Local band, Turning Point, performed at the ERV presentation held Jan. 22 at the Aroostook Centre Mall. Performing are, from left: James Matilla, bass; Michael Leggieri, keyboard; Lance Albair, lead vocals; Greg Pelletier, drums; and Steve Quist, guitar/vocals.
