Aroostook benefits from committed providers

To the editor:
    In the spring of 2008, there was a major flood in Aroostook County and was declared a state of disaster by President Bush. Immediately following this declaration, Bishop Malone of the Catholic Dioceses of Maine took action to raise funds to help the victims of Aroostook County. Over $150,000 was collected from parishioners all over the state. Partnered with United Way of Aroostook and Emergency Management of Aroostook, Catholic Charities of Maine began helping disaster victims with any unmet needs.     The unmet needs committee hired a case manager and from there, began reaching out to folks who still had not received the help needed following the flood. Dixie Shaw from Catholic Charities of Maine worked endlessly to assure that nobody was forgotten. By January 2009, over 500 people had been contacted and many had been helped in numerous ways. The unmet needs committee had completed its job.
    In April of this year, flooding affected parts of Aroostook County again. Catholic Charities of Maine was there again to help with funds left over from last year’s flood. Yet again Dixie Shaw from CCME worked endlessly making sure that all involved were helped.
    Aroostook County is very lucky to have organizations such as these. Partnering together and making these things happen has been a tradition for many years and will always be what makes Aroostook County unique.