Houlton Rotary

Houlton Rotary Learns about St. Mary’s Food Pantry

written by Scott Dionne – picture courtesy of Mike Clark

Mildred Madigan recently visited the Houlton Rotary Club to highlight the efforts of St. Mary’s Food Pantry.  For over ten years, the pantry has been assisting local folks who struggle to find enough food to sustain themselves and their families.  Madigan, who manages the program, claims, “No one ever asks personal questions of those seeking assistance, and religion and church is never discussed.  The need for food is the only prerequisite for coming to the pantry.”

St. Mary’s program is engineered only to supplement the needs of individuals and families, limiting visits to once every six weeks.  This approach encourages people to look for other, more long-term sources of support, such as food stamps.  Many times a family will take advantage of the pantry’s service but once or twice a year to help get through hard times.  When people look to St. Mary’s for assistance, care is given to maintaining their privacy; program volunteers strive to schedule food pick up times fifteen minutes apart.

The food given by the program per visit is enough to fill two large grocery bags.  The bags contain cereal, juice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, and other items.  The food makes it to the pantry from a variety of sources.  Donations come from the USDA and Catholic Charities, along with those pooled by students from local schools who conduct food drives.  Local grocery stores also give products.  Shop-N-Save makes weekly donations from its deli, and County Yankee has been a consistent supporter of the program.

Though the generosity of community members and other organizations is great, Madigan does need to fill holes by using the monetary donations garnered throughout the year.  She shops locally for many items, but also, whenever possible, takes advantage of a large food bank in Brewer.  In Brewer, she can buy first-quality food for $.13 per pound.  Able to purchase food for such reduced prices, Madigan stretches even the smallest donation into a meal for a needy family.  St. Mary’s Food Pantry, under her guidance and because of the effort of many volunteers, assists over ninety-five different area families per month.  Madigan and all the people who support the pantry truly understand Rotary’s guiding principle of placing service above self.

Hodgdon High School Awarded – Service Above Self

On Monday, May 5, 2008, Houlton Rotary Club presented Hodgdon High School with the Service Above Self Award at the annual Student Recognition Lunch.  As a service organization, the Houlton Rotary club honors a local high school annually for demonstrating exemplary performance in the area of service to the community.

“Service Above Self is the Rotary motto.” States Fred Grant, President Elect of the Houlton Rotary Club.  “We honor those that serve the best and Hodgdon High School made a significant impact on the community this year.”

In total, Hodgdon High School participated in 18 community service projects which benefited a broad range of organizations and individuals such as Houlton Regional Hospital, St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Coats & Clothes for Kids through the Salvation Army, local veterans, children and the elderly.  Their efforts included participation of hundreds of students and spanned the entire academic year.

What is significant about Hodgdon High School’s service program is that they recognize the importance of the efforts of even a few students working together for a common good.  In addition to conducting large scale projects, students were encouraged to make an impact in the community even if it involved only a few students who were passionate about the cause.

Grant concludes, “Making a difference in the lives of those around you is what Rotary is all about.  We applaud Hodgdon and all the schools in our region for teaching students that even as individuals we can make a positive impact on the community.”

District Govenor Visit

District Govenor, Terry Lennihan, visited the club on Monday, January 7, 2009 and started us off on a new year. 

David Grant Speaks to Rotary

David Grant spoke at Rotary on 12/10/2007 and updated the club on the lastest issues pertaining to US customs, including US Passport regulations, the Nexus cards for Border crossings.  As always, David’s talk was well received by the club and of timely importance due to pending federal legislation. David was guest of member and past President, Jim Brown.

Momentum Aroostook

11-05-2007 Nathan Berry was guest of Craig Bean this week and he spoke about Momentum Aroostook.  It was great to have a Houlton grad with us and Nathan provided us with some great information about an important movement.

Momentum Aroostook is a group of young professionals making strides throughout Aroostook County with a goal of creating a County‐wide networking group for people ages 20‐40.

“Although major efforts are being made to stimulate job growth and provide places of employment, muchis still being reported on the out migration of our youth in Aroostook County. We feel that having other young people to network with and understand what the County has to offer is an important tool to help decrease this out migration.” said Nate Berry, member of the Momentum Aroostook Steering Committee.

Momentum Aroostook was recently formed as a networking group to accomplish just that. Main goals of the group include enjoying each other’s company and region, forming a network of support among young residents, urging those poised to leave or return to Aroostook County to realize the opportunities here, enact change and/or support initiatives that enhance the vitality of the region, exemplify and promote a positive image of our region, and help make Aroostook County more economically, culturally and aesthetically attractive.

“We feel that a group like this is long overdue. We’re already planning some outdoor events, family
gatherings, and also are looking to promote County‐wide events like the Muskie & Ploye Festival, the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, and others.” Berry added “We hope that it will grow into a real asset for the County as a group that will benefit its members and employers throughout the region in helping to recruit and retain young people.”

For those in the Aroostook County area looking for an opportunity to create, advance or enhance their
business and personal life, Momentum Aroostook invites you to become a charter member of the group. Business and social networking is key to finding opportunities in a variety of interests and Momentum Aroostook will introduce you to an entire network of energetic and enthusiastic folks.

Anyone interested in learning more about Momentum Aroostook, please email Nate Berry at
nberry@barresibenefits.com or visit them on the web at www.momentumaroostook.com

Presidential Visit

Northern Maine Community College President Timothy Crowley (center) and University of Maine at Presque Isle President Donald Zillman (right) were guest speakers at the Houlton Rotary Club’s October 29 meeting. The two presidents spoke about Question 3, the higher education bond, as well as Question 2, the research and development initiative in the upcoming November 6 election and the significance of these two measures to the communities and people of the region. Statewide approval of Question 2 would provide $50 million to the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), which would award on a competitive basis research grants for projects related to advancing Maine’s economy. An additional $3.5 million would be directed to the Finance Authority of Maine, and $1.5 million is earmarked for the Maine Rural Development Authority. Question 3 calls for $43.5 million for interior and exterior building renovations, improvements and additions at all campuses of the Maine Community College System, Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Maine System. Altogether, County institutions would see an investment of more than $3.5 million in the infrastructure of the three local campuses. With Presidents Crowley and Zillman is Houlton Rotarian Vicki Smith, Sr. Vice President at Katahdin Trust Company.