CBP Officers donate to Maine Food Banks

by Staff Pioneer Times
15 years ago

    HOULTON — Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from Houlton, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren, Madawaska and Fort Kent donated more than four tons of non-perishable food to Catholic Charities Maine. The donated items will supplement 24 Aroostook County food pantries from Wytopitlock to St. Francis. 
ImageContributed photo
FOOD DONATION — Customs and Border Protection officers from Houlton, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren, Madawaska and Fort Kent collected food for Catholic Charities of Maine’s 24 food pantries in Aroostook County. Standing in front of the 7,549 pounds of food that were donated are from left, SCBPO Tim Toner, Houlton; CBPO Jeff Martin, Houlton; CBPA Lana McCurry, Van Buren; PD Trisha Scull, Van Buren; and SCBPO Kevin Murchie, Fort Fairfield.
    During the last three months, CBP officers from the Houlton area of responsibility collected and donated a total of 8,964 pounds to the Catholic Charities Maine as part of the nationwide 2010 Feds Feed Families Food Drive. The food donations will help bridge the gap during summer months when donations are typically much less than over the holiday seasons.
    “The strength of CBP is its people and anytime our officers are able to help those in need is a true sentiment of the type of individuals we value as an agency,” said Director of Field Operations Kevin Weeks, Boston Field Office. “The integrity and determination shown by our officers in assisting the communities we serve is the cornerstone of who we are as an agency and I am proud of what they have accomplished.”
    According to Representative Dixie Shaw, Catholic Charities Maine is a food warehouse for food pantries to receive items when their levels are insufficient to cover the needs of families in their area. In 2009 alone, Aroostook County food pantries assisted with feeding 40,262 people.
    Among the items collected and donated were canned goods, rice, pasta, tomato products, flour, juice, macaroni and cheese, and tuna. So far, CBP has collected 72,222 pounds of food nationally in the hopes of collecting a total of 100,000 pounds of food when all food totals are reported on Sept. 14.