12 Days of Gratitude Food Drive returns to fight food insecurity

GREENVILLE — Northern Light CA Dean Hospital is kicking off its annual 12 Days of Gratitude employee and community food drive to support the Moosehead Lake Kiwanis Club’s Backpack Program. From Nov. 10 to Nov. 21 donations of nonperishable food items will be collected at CA Dean Hospital, Northern Light Primary Care practices in Greenville, Monson and Sangerville, and Indian Hill Trading Post.

Suggested items for donation include cereal, pancake mix/syrup, muffin mix, peanut butter and jelly, soup, pasta and pasta sauce, applesauce, raisins, granola bars, microwave popcorn, crackers, and canned veggies, chicken, tuna, chili and baked beans.

“More than 25 percent of children in Piscataquis County are food insecure, a figure that greatly exceeds the Maine average,” says Sally Farrand, Moosehead Lake Kiwanis co-president. “The food drive is a chance to make a difference right before the holiday season, when families may be vulnerable and can benefit the most from healthy, nutritious food. With the disruption in SNAP benefits, the need is greater than ever.”

For the first time, CA Dean Hospital is inviting community members who would like to fight food insecurity in other ways to make a donation to support emergency food bags for patients and baby formula for families in need. Donations via credit card, bank transfer, PayPal or Venmo can be made at northernlighthealth.org/GiveCADean. Gifts designated to the CA Dean Patient Assistance Fund through Nov. 21 will support these important community needs.

For more information about the food drive, please visit northernlighthealth.org/CADean. To learn more about the Moosehead Lake Kiwanis Club, please visit facebook.com/mooseheadlakekiwanis.