Free Drive-Up Food Event Helps Community
Date: 11/21/2024
“Thank you for doing this!” and “God bless you!” were some of the many comments from grateful participants as food was loaded into their vehicles at the free Drive-Up Food Event held at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital Dow Building parking lot on November 20, 2024. This event was made possible by a generous grant from the Sebasticook Valley Elks Lodge No. 271 and a donation from Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital.
More than 230 bags full of fresh produce, canned and boxed items, peanut butter, beans, rice, milk, cereal, and frozen chickens were distributed within an hour, totaling 8,766 pounds of food! The event was originally scheduled from 8 to 10:30 am while supplies last, but due to demand, the event was closed after all the food was given out by 9 am. Leftover broccoli, carrots, and onions were donated to MCI for their upcoming free Thanksgiving Community Dinner on November 28 from 11 am to 2 pm at the MCI Dining Hall, 295 Main Street in Pittsfield.
Special thank you to the Sebasticook Valley Elks Lodge for their generous grant, to Sebasticook Valley Hospital for their donation, to Danforth’s Down Home Supermarkets for their gift of 225 grocery bags, and to the community business volunteers from Danforth’s Down Home Supermarkets, Kleinschmidt, Sebasticook Valley Elks, and Sebasticook Valley Hospital for their help at the event.
If you are a business in the community who would like to either sponsor or volunteer for a future Drive-Up Food Event, please contact Sherry Tardy, director of Community Health, at
stardy@northernlight.org.
Sebasticook Valley Hospital will be offering another free community Drive-Up Food Event in February 2025 from funds raised from the Pittsfield Business Walk for Meals event held on September 8, 2024.
If you are in need of food or other resources, please check out
northernlighthealth.org/Find-Help, 211maine.org, or dial 211 for assistance.
Randy Clark, president of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, thanks Michael Havey, secretary of Sebasticook Valley Elks Lodge No. 271, for their generous grant donation.
Drive-Up Food Event volunteers from Danforth’s Down Home Supermarket, Kleinschmidt, Sebasticook Valley Elks, and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital
