Local food drives aim to ‘Make A Difference’

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One can can “Make A Difference.”

One can of green beans, one jar of spaghetti sauce or one box of biscuit mix from each family in Old Town is the ambitious goal of Crossroads Ministries’ Make A Difference Day food drive this Saturday.

Hampden residents can make a difference by contributing to the Community Food Cupboard Challenge this week that culminates this weekend on the 13th annual Make A Difference Day.

“On Make A Difference Day we’re asking each household to donate one item to the [Crossroads] resource center,” said Brenda Davis, director of Crossroads Ministries. “If each household gave one item, it would really make a difference in the winter.”

The Hampden Community Food Cupboard, located in the Hampden Congregational Church, will benefit from the Community Food Cupboard Challenge.

“There has been a 65 percent increase in the amount of people applying for assistance from the food cupboard since July,” said Melanie Sachs, who is also chairwoman of the missions and outreach committee at the church. “The food cupboard is almost bare. We decided the community of Hampden should come together.

“We’re inviting the community … to get a collection of food and drop it by the Hampden Congregational Church, where [the food cupboard] is housed, on Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon,” she said. “I really think people want to find a way to help and this is a way. All of the food we collect stays right here.”

The church is located at 101 Main Road North in Hampden.

“Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others – a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors,” the Make A Difference Day Web site states. “Everyone can participate.”

Created by USA Weekend magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of October. According to the Web site, millions of people have participated over the years. In 2002, 3 million people gave back to their communities by volunteering on that day.

In Old Town and Hampden the goal is to fill the local food banks’ shelves before the holidays and colder weather.

“The items can be nonperishable food, paper products or a $1 bill, which we can turn into food,” Davis said. “It gets the whole community involved. Every person can donate one item.”

Shampoo and other personal care products are other items that needy people often can’t afford, said Sachs. She said that is why a goal of the Community Food Cupboard Challenge is to collect these items.

“We’ve been asking people to think about some real nontraditional items,” she said. “Items like soap, diapers, shampoo, small bottles of laundry detergent and feminine hygiene products are needed. The word’s getting out there.”

Crossroads operates a thrift shop and resource center 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at their new location at 2 Wood St.

Area businesses are helping out with the food drive in their own ways, said Old Town-Orono YMCA director Gary Baldwin.

“We’ve got a donation box in our lobby,” he said.

Hannaford Old Town also has a Crossroads donation box for anyone who wants to drop off a donation while at the grocery story.

Middle school and elementary school pupils are lending a hand by holding a food drive this week in both communities.

“All four public schools in Hampden are collecting this week,” said Sachs.

The town of Hampden is helping out by providing a public works truck and two employees to move the collected items from the schools to the church.

The Hampden Community Food Cupboard is open 10-11 a.m. every Wednesday. Residents are required to check in with Cheryl Johnson at the Hampden town office beforehand for assistance.

Drop-off spots in Hampden are located at the Edythe Dyer Community Library, Graves supermarket and the town office.

“They [the town office] will now have a box year-round for donations,” said Sachs. “That’s one of the best things to come out of this.”

Make A Difference Day is held in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation. Actor Paul Newman is a supporter of Make A Difference Day and each year gives $10,000 to 10 Make A Difference Day projects across the nation.

The 10 honorees, plus hundreds of local honorees, will be spotlighted in the USA Weekend April 2004 issue, coinciding with National Volunteer Week.

If all goes well and Crossroads can achieve its goal, Davis said, she hopes to enter Old Town’s project into the contest.

“We’re registered on the Web site already,” said Sachs.

Several Old Town organizations will help out by going door-to-door for the food drive Saturday. Cub Scouts from Pack 76, Kiwanis Key Club members from Old Town High School and senior citizens from the Penobscot River House will be assisting.

“A number of local service club [representatives] will be on hand,” said Davis. “And there are a number of individuals who are doing their neighborhoods.”

Anyone in the Old Town area who wants to donate items, find out more or pitch in Saturday can call Davis at 827-1289.

In Hampden, people can call Sachs for more information at 862-6414 or the Rev. Deborah Jenks at 862-5247.