Casella Waste Systems gives $10,000 to River Coalition

OLD TOWN – A recent $10,000 donation from Casella Waste Systems Inc., operator of Juniper Ridge Landfill, will be used by the River Coalition to help fund initiatives, programs and operation costs.

“It’s a sizable contribution,” coalition director Micah Robbins said Friday.

Casella has contributed to the coalition in the past, but this is the largest donation to date.

The River Coalition is a nonprofit organization that serves the Penobscot River communities of Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Milford and Old Town, and it collaborates with the Penobscot Nation to help serve the Indian Island community.

The coalition aids numerous after-school, mentoring and summer programs for children and families in the area.

“The important thing is that we want to be as good a partner to Casella as they’ve been to us,” Robbins said.

Using some of the donated funds, the River Coalition will help the company in its effort to educate schoolchildren about reducing the amount of trash they create, recycling and reusing.

“We look at this as a true partnership,” Robbins said, noting that building community partnerships is one of the most important parts of the coalition.

Some of the money also will be used for programs and operational expenses, including grant writing.

“It covers costs above and beyond what grants will provide and allow,” Robbins said. “The biggest benefit is those dollars translate into even more dollars for the community.”

After going through a rocky period and funding shortages, the River Coalition is getting back on its feet.

“It feels like the work that we’ve done to build the partnerships are all starting to come together,” said Lisa Morin, River Coalition manager of operations.

In the coming months, the coalition will expand all of its programs and intends to offer new literacy opportunities for preschool children and their parents.

“We’re also increasing our relationship with Old Town parks and rec and working with Job Corps and United Way,” Morin said.