For twenty-one consecutive months, members of the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954, have volunteered to assist the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging and Catholic Charities of Maine Hunger & Relief Services, in distributing boxes of food to qualified seniors. Each thirty-pound box contains juice, canned fruit and vegetables, protein, dairy products, rice, potato, soup, peanut butter, and other available, miscellaneous commodities. In addition to its usual monthly donation of volunteer labor, this month the Presque Isle Elks donated Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars to Catholic Charities of Maine for its hunger and relief services.
Dixie Shaw, Program Director of Hunger and Relief Services for Catholic Charities of Maine, and also a member of the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954, said, “Receipt of this donation from the Presque Isle Elks was particularly appreciated by Catholic Charities at this time, on account of the significant increase in the need of seniors, as well as others, for food assistance. This results from the substantial increases in the price of most food items, as well as the skyrocketing prices of gas and heating fuel. These price increases have made it very difficult for individuals to balance their budgets, with food being the budget item which most often gets reduced to unhealthy levels. This donation by the Presque Isle Elks will enable Catholic Charities to continue its assistance, as well as help those who find themselves in need for the first time on account of the unusual circumstances presently existing.”
Members of the Presque Isle Elks who participated in the monthly Senior Commodities food box distribution on March 3, 2022, were, from left to right, Dana York, Nita Theriault, Terry Plummer, Dixie Shaw, Reuben Caron, Lodge #1954 Exalted Ruler, Gregory Daniels, Lodge #1954 Treasurer, and Jean Jackson.