Asociated Grocers of Maine the distributor for Shurfine Foods recently presented a check for $2,000 to Dixie Shaw of Catholic Charities Maine to be used to help stock the Aroostook County Food Bank. According to Shaw, "With retailers and wholesalers becoming more and more efficient, surplus food is harder and harder to come by and this cash donation will help those most in need.” This money will be used to purchase food through the Good Shepard Food Bank. Several corporate partnerships allow the food to be purchased at a discount, further leveraging the donation and providing needed food to many area citizens.
Contributed photo
Members of the Associated Grocers of Maine, the distributor for Shurfine Foods, recently presented Dixie Shaw, director of the Catholic Charities, Maine, Aroostook County Food Bank, with a check for $2,000 to assist in stocking the local food bank. From left are: Jim Lizotte, Van Buren Shurfine Foods retailer; John Robichaud, Associated Grocers board member of John’s Shurfine, Fort Kent; board member David Sleeper, Sleeper’s in Caribou; Shaw and Tim Ramage, Sr., director of marketing for Associated Grocers.
Associated Grocers of Maine has a been a major supporter of the Good Shepard Food Bank for many years and recently decided to support Catholic Charities Food Bank in northern Maine as a way to give back to northern Maine people who have supported the several Shurfine Food Stores from Fort Kent to Sherman.
Associated Grocers of Maine is the supplier for the independently owned Shurfine Food stores throughout Maine, N.H. and Massachuettes. Two members of the Associated Grocers Board of Directors, John Robichaud of John's Shurfine in Fort Kent and David Sleeper of Sleeper's in Caribou, along with Van Buren Shurfine Foods retailer Jim Lizotte, Tim Ramage, Sr. director of marketing for Associated Grocers and Roger Sirois, local retail counselor for Shurfine Food Stores, were on hand to present the check to Catholic Charities.
According to Sleeper, "We are proud to support a company who gives back so much to those in need. As local retailers we each try to support various community projects, but when we pool our resources together with our member-owned warehouse, we are able to make an even larger impact in the communities that we serve." In recent years, Associated Grocers of Maine donated over $100,000 in cash and merchandise to Maine charities and food banks. The money presented to Catholic Charities was raised during a silent auction held at a recent trade show that was supported by both retailers and the vendor community.
Associated Grocers President Mark Sprackland looks forward to more opportunities to help the Aroostook County Food Bank. "To us, it just makes sense to distribute the money in all areas of the state of Maine to represent the geographic distribution of our stores. Our Aroostook County stores have been so supportive of our warehouse, that we are pleased to give back to the community on their behalf!" Associated Grocers of Maine is a member owned distributor based in Gardiner, that has served the Maine community for over 50 years.
The Catholic Charities Food Bank is a project of Catholic Charities Maine and is a food distribution center that supplies 24 local food pantries from Ludlow to Fort Kent. Every community in Aroostook County is serviced by one of their affiliated food pantries. Any person needing food assistance can contact our office in Caribou for information on a food pantry in their community.
For additional information, contact Dixie Shaw at Catholic Charities Maine at Dshaw@ccme.org or Tim Ramage of Associated Grocers of Maine.
