Staff Writer
Members of Teamsters Local Union 340 will hit the road July 20 and 21 to hold their annual food drive. The event will kick off at Kittery Town Hall on Friday night and conclude during the Maine Potato Blossom Parade on Saturday in Fort Fairfield, stopping at several locations along the way.
“The Teamsters Local 340 Women’s Committee is once again heading up our fourth annual statewide food drive to benefit the Catholic Charities of Maine in Caribou. Through the Feed the County program, Catholic Charities supplies food to 25 food pantries in Aroostook County, from Wytopitlock to St. Francis and Fort Fairfield to Ashland,” said Kenneth L. Eaton, president of Local 340.
Catholic Charities maintains their own food bank, relying on food drives like this to keep shelves stocked for those less fortunate in the County.
“Last year Teamsters collected 30,000 pounds of food and $1,600 in monetary donations. We hope to exceed last year’s donations,” said Eaton.
The union uses a specially marked truck for pickups.
“The Teamsters Joint Council 10 tractor trailer will be traveling the length of the state, stopping at designated locations to load and fill the truck with nonperishable food donations collected by the members of Teamsters Local 340,” said Eaton.
In Aroostook, stops are scheduled for Exit 302 in Houlton at the Irving Big Stop from 7-7:30 a.m. on July 21, followed by a Route 1 stop in Presque Isle around 8:30-9 a.m.
“The parade ends a week-long festival that has been around since 1937, the same year the Teamsters of Maine was founded,” said Eaton, noting additional nonperishable food and monetary donations will be accepted along the parade route.
“All donations will be delivered to Catholic Charities Maine Home Supplies and Food Bank in Caribou following the parade,” said Eaton.
The 48-foot tractor-trailer truck will travel approximately 359 miles over its two-day journey. The drive will take just over six hours, with and added seven and a half hours for dock/load, communication and break times. Times are subject to change depending on I-95 traffic and road/stop conditions. Monetary donations can be made care of: Catholic Charities Maine and are tax deductible.
