21st Annual Ton of Pasta a Huge Success Thanks to You

4 of Townsquare Media's radio stations fanned out in Ellsworth and the Bangor-Brewer area on Saturday, March 18th collecting pasta for local food cupboards. DJ Fred and I were at the Ellsworth Hannaford from 10 to 1 and am pleased to let you know that thanks to you, we collected over the equivalent of a ton of pasta! That's more than 2000 pounds, thanks to the physical donations of pasta and the cash you dropped off!

All of the pasta and cash were given to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry, so your donations stayed locally right in Downeast Maine.

When we started this 21 years ago, we thought wouldn't it be fantastic if collectively we could collect a ton of pasta. But thanks to your amazing generosity, we generally collect over a ton just in Ellsworth!

This year the weather cooperated, as temperatures were in the lower 40's and the wind wasn't howling. We've done this in the snow, rain, gale force winds and freezing temperatures over the 21 years because the need continues to be there.

One mom asked me to explain to her young daughter about the importance of donating a box of pasta yesterday. The little girl was maybe 5, 6 or 7. I asked her if she opened her refrigerator was there food in there? She nodded and told me yes. I explained that unfortunately, some of her friends weren't so lucky, and when they opened their refrigerator, there wasn't food in there for them to eat. That seemed to hit home.

If you didn't have the opportunity to donate yesterday, the Hancock County Food Drive kicks off April 1st and the Letter Carrier's Food Drive will be on Saturday, May 13th. As I mentioned during our broadcast yesterday, your local food cupboards are always in need of food, cash and donations of your time! Unfortunately food insecurity is a real issue in Downeast and Eastern Maine.

Events like our 21st Annual Ton of Pasta Food Drive remind me that I am so blessed to be part of the Downeast Maine Community! You stepped up again and it was so nice to connect with many of you as you dropped off the cash and pasta. I've said it before, but it bears repeating, there's nothing like Mainers who step up and take care of their fellow Mainers in need and those they love. On behalf of all those who will benefit from your generosity, thank you!

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