Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 32 : Spring 2017 | Page 61

be building relationships with organizations that hit the
ground running and are genuine in their actions to assist
the people who need their help.”
The program has been creating lots of buzz, gaining
support from local businesses and groups.
Locke said, “Help is coming in in all shapes and
sizes; large check, small check, food donations and vol-
unteers. It’s only by working together as a community
that we will be able to solve the problem.”
It’s not just the businesses and organizations that
are putting their dollars, their products and their time
behind the effort, but even local kids are stepping up to
make a difference.
Students at Cornerstone Christian Academy learned
the meaning behind helping others at a recent winter
carnival competition. Students were challenged to bring
boxes of cereal to school to support the Summer Gap
Feeding Program. Classrooms competed to see which
class collected the most boxes. After the competition,
the school had collected 217 boxes of cereal which will
be given to children this summer.
In addition, Presque Isle Youth Hockey players held
a snack food drive to collect items for the program, and
Easton elementary student Ashton Embleton collected
her spare change and presented United Way with a $100
check in support of the program. (She has created and
managed a campaign titled “Loose Change Changes
Lives” and has made various contributions to other local
charities.)
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our com-
munities,” said Locke. “People have been calling the
office, asking how they can help. It’s just so nice to know
we live in such a caring community.”
Kids Helping Kids
The Hampton Inn in Presque Isle donated a total $2,000 to support the
Summer Gap Feeding Program. Part of the funds came directly from
employees, with a coporate matching gift.
Generous Supporters of the Summer Gap
Feeding Program to Date
Donations range from cash support to donation of food and
water and offers to volunteer putting the meals together.
ACAP Employees
Cassidy Orthodontics, LLC
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Cornerstone Christian Academy
County Federal Credit Union
Emera Maine
Farm Credit East
Grandma’s Glass & Things
Grant Memorial UMC
Hampton Inn
Huber Engineered Woods, LLC
Irving Farms
MMG Insurance
Northern Lighthouse
Pine Street Elementary Staff
Presque Isle Kiwanis Club
Presque Isle Rotary Club
Presque Isle Youth Hockey
Riverside Inn Restaurant
Smiths Farm
St. Apollonia Dental Clinic
TAMC
United Insurance
and numerous individuals
If you’d like to be part of the solution or more information, visit
www.unitedwayaroostook.org/programs/summer-gap-feeding-program
or contact Sherry Locke at United Way, [phone].
Among those supporting the
cause are, clockwise from top,
Ashton Embleton of Easton,
children at the Cornerstone
Christian Academy, and mem-
bers of the Presque Isle Youth
Hockey team.
SPRING 2017
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