Beginning Feb. 23 the Aroostook Veterans Alliance, Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954, and Catholic Charities of Maine, will, in partnership, distribute boxes of nutritious food to any military veteran who currently is receiving any form of income based assistance, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits or food stamps, heating assistance, rental assistance, or homeowner’s assistance.
Food boxes will be available to any person identified as a military veteran, who affirms that they currently receive any form of income-based assistance and wishes to receive a free box of nutritious food. The boxes will be available at three different locations in central Aroostook, namely the Presque Isle Elks Lodge at 508 Main Street in Presque Isle, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paul-Lockhart Post #6187, at 64 Presque Isle Street in Fort Fairfield, and Catholic Charities of Maine warehouse at 14 Old Van Buren Road in Caribou. Distribution of the boxes will begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at noon on the following Thursdays: Feb. 23, March 2, March 16, and March 30.
These food boxes are being made available as the result of a Freedom Grant received by the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954, as well as a donation of food by the Midwest Food Bank, which was transported to the Monticello, Maine, Catholic Charities warehouse by Falcon Transport.
The manpower for the distribution of the food boxes will be provided by members of the Aroostook Veterans Alliance in Fort Fairfield, the Presque Isle Elks Lodge in Presque Isle, and Catholic Charities of Maine in Caribou.
James Gehring, service officer from the Aroostook Veterans Alliance, said, “The availability of these food boxes comes at a critical time for our veterans requiring assistance. The increased price of fuel, electricity and food has significantly impacted veterans financially. Because all these organizations worked together, they were able to provide this needed assistance to deserving military veterans at this critical time.”
