Presque Isle Elks partner with Catholic Charities

Presenting a check for $8,000 to Dixie Shaw, Catholic Charities Food and Hunger Services Program Director, extreme right, are Alan Harding, chair of the Board of Directors of the Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954, and Melanie Fassold, Elks exalted ruler. (Contributed photo)

Aroostook County, referred to as “The County”, has the oldest median age population of any county in the nation. The people of The County are extremely vulnerable to food insecurity.

Catholic Charities of Maine does more to address the issue of food insecurity in Aroostook than any other non-governmental agency. It supplies food to over 28 food pantries throughout Aroostook. In 2023, those food pantries served over 33,000 people.

In order to assist Catholic Charities of Maine in its efforts to fight food insecurity in Aroostook, the Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954 gave to Catholic Charities Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000). This money was the proceeds received by the Presque Isle Elks in relation to three grants received from the Elks National Foundation, a $2,000 Gratitude Grant, a $4,000 Beacon Grant and a $2,000 Spotlight Grant.