Staff Writer
“I’m not going to ask you for anything,” said Dixie Shaw, greeting U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, as she arrived at the Catholic Charities Food Bank and Thrift Store in Caribou, “I just want to show you our facility and explain what we do here.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins visited the site of the Catholic Charities Food Bank and Thrift Store in Caribou Saturday morning, receiving a guided tour by site director Dixie Shaw. Behind the counter at the Thrift Shop during the senator’s visit were, at left, from front, Morgan January, AmeriCorps volunteer; Mackenzie Pelkey, volunteer; and Jeanna Gardiner, Thrift Store manager. Shaw and Sen. Collins are shown at right, respectively.
Sen. Collins had never been to the location that provides food to 24 food pantries in Aroostook County, feeding an estimated 42,000 individuals. Shaw informed Sen. Collins that the need for food assistance had increased by 7,000 over the past year. “The food goes primarily to single-parent homes, elderly, unemployed and the disabled, — we don’t discriminate, we just make sure people have enough to eat,” said Shaw.
As Sen. Collins was given a tour of the Thrift Store, Shaw explained how the need for a larger space became necessary and how important the Thrift Store is since 80 percent of the funds needed to purchase the food for the food bank comes from the sale of items in the store.
The senator and Shaw discussed the need for food assistance within Aroostook County, with Shaw explaining how the food is distributed to other pantries, in turn providing to individuals in specific areas. As Sen. Collins wandered through the thrift store, she stated, “I’m very impressed with the way this looks, I had no idea this was such a large space and by all that is involved in supplying all the different pantries.”
As she continued informing the senator with all the aspects of being a distributor to the other pantries they next toured the Food Bank location, during which Shaw explained how the food comes in, is organized and readied to be picked up.
During the morning visit Sen. Collins and Shaw discussed the hardship of mill closings and the possibility of the losing rail transportation to this area. “The loss of rail service is something we really need to work on,” said Sen. Collins.
At the conclusion of her visit Sen. Collins again offered kudos to Shaw, her volunteers, employees and the Catholic Charities Services for the extensive work that is done through the Caribou location in assisting those in need throughout Aroostook County. “This is an amazing process,” said Sen. Collins. Shaw replied, “ It’s very challenging but we make sure everyone gets enough to eat, that is our primary focus — no one should ever go have to go without food.”
