Teamsters & Catholic Charities Launch Multi-State Food Drive For Those In Need During COVID-19 Pandemic

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, June 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Teamsters Local 340 and Catholic Charities USA launched a three-day mission to deliver desperately-needed food to the charitable organization's chapters across New England, starting the trip from the union hall in South Portland. Over the next three days, the Teamsters will deliver more than 40,000 pounds of food to locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Teamsters Local 340 and Teamsters Joint Council 10 have partnered with Catholic Charities for more than 10 years, donating time, labor and the use of the joint council's truck to help deliver food and supplies to those most in need.

"Teamsters are always happy to participate in something so worthy that helps so many of our friends and neighbors," said Brett Miller, President of Teamsters Local 340. "It is what we do, and it is even more needed right now. We always hope none of our members need this help, but if they do, we know it is there and we are doing our part to make sure of that." 

In the past, the two organizations have held an annual Statewide Food Drive which concluded at the Maine Potato Blossom Parade in Fort Fairfield, Maine. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 parade was cancelled, but the demand for food and donations for those in need has only increased during this crisis.

"We have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the relationship we have with the Teamsters," said Judy Katzel, spokesperson for Catholic Charities Maine. "We couldn't do something of this magnitude without this the support from Teamsters Local 340 and Joint Council 10. Working with the Teamsters, we are literally able to feed thousands of people across four states with just one drive."

Over the course of the three-day trip, the Teamster truck will drop off 40,000 pounds of potatoes that were donated by McCain Foods USA. The potatoes were packed and grown by Guerrette Farms in Caribou and loaded on the truck in Monticello. On Friday, the truck will pick up two pallets of cheese in Manchester, NH that will then be transported back to Catholic Charities in Monticello.

A full itinerary of the trip is included below. Media interested in covering any of the deliveries across New England can contact Traci St. Clair at (207) 554-8330 for exact arrival and departure times. All contacts listed below are with local Catholic Charities locations.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 1-1:30 p.m.

Teamsters Local Union 340
27 Main St., South Portland, ME 04106

Teamsters Joint Council 10 truck arrives from Monticello, Maine with 40,000 lbs. of potatoes in a Catholic Charities trailer.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Timetable for locations below TBD, please

Catholic Social Services Fall River
Greater New Bedford Regional Tech High School
1121 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford MA 02745
Matt Dansereau, (508) 951-0598   

Catholic Charities St Martin De Porres Center Providence
160 Cranston St., Providence RI 02970
Linda A'Vant'Deishinni, (401) 215-7388   

Catholic Charities Worcester
10 Hammond St, Worcester, MA 01610
Maydee Morales (203) 814-0365   

Friday, June 19, 2020

Catholic Charities New Hampshire Food Bank
700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH 03109
Ann Coates/Mark Gambeski (603) 669-9725 

Contact:
Traci St. Clair, (207) 554-8330
[email protected] 

SOURCE Teamsters Local Union 340