Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 24 : Spring 2015 | Page 33

One of the most remarkable aspects of
FOA is its ability to adapt and grow,
all the while creating new ways for
community partners and businesses to
join in the effort. For example, Johnny’s
Selected Seeds, a local produce, farming
equipment and supply company, matches
FOA’s purchases dollar for dollar. They
also supported the construction of a
new FOA greenhouse which provides
the means to grow other fruits such as
cantaloupes.
Another recent initiative is the partnership
with the local sheriff’s office and the
Maine Department of Corrections.
A few carefully screened, minimum
security inmates are now members of
Dale’s volunteer team who come out
each day to harvest the crops. This has
already proven to be a wonderful way to
engage these young men in meaningful
work while teaching them new farming
skills and connecting them to the project
and their community.
Dale sincerely believes that anyone with
the passion to help others can replicate
Friends of Aroostook in any community
or county. “Where there are farms, there
is promise,” he says.
The fact is that of all the states in New
England, Maine ranks number one when
it comes to food insecurity. Maine is also
the most rural state and, particularly for
older residents, maintaining a consistent
and healthy diet can be a struggle. Our
most vulnerable neighbors must often
choose between putting food on the
table, taking their daily medications,
heating their homes or paying rent. At

AARP, we believe that everyone has the
right to age with dignity and we applaud
Dale and his team for their exceptional
efforts to help make this a reality for
thousands of older Mainers who benefit
from the work of FOA.
In 2014, AARP Maine commissioned a
short film to showcase Dale and FOA’s
achievements which have such a positive
impact year after year. Shot on location by
award-winning filmmaker John Martin,
“With Friends Like These” may serve
as an incentive for other communities
and partners to get involved in similar
projects. After all, FOA started because
one person decided to make a difference
and now thousands of people benefit.
The film, with a running time of just over
eleven minutes, is now available online
at AARP Maine’s YouTube channel and
Facebook page at aarpmaine. It can also
be accessed directly online at http://bit.
ly/1CELyQH.
This spring, Dale and his team will once
again be out in the fields, planting seeds
and getting ready for the growing season.
They work each day, rain or shine, and
they could use your help. Sometimes FOA
loses whole crops because they don’t have
enough volunteers at harvest time. If you
would like to volunteer or if you would
like more information about FOA, call
694-8131, email friendsofaroostook@
yahoo.com or just go to their website at
www.friendsofaroostook.com.
If we work together an