For the Masons’ part, the event and the resulting impact the donated food has had across Maine is a win-win, said Susan Scacchi, executive director of the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation.
“The Masons that were here last year just loved being in a room with the students and the energy that was here. Those who distributed the meal kits couldn’t get over the reaction from the food pantries about what they were getting,” Scacchi said. “Everybody seemed to love the meals. From families’ responses — the people taking the meal kits away — I don’t think there was a negative response.”
Trisha Mason said the MMCF’s support and passion for service embodies UNE’s own commitment to improve community and planetary health — for people everywhere.
“I think it’s the heart and the spirit of the UNE community that enables this to grow each year and the reason people show up year in and year out with enthusiasm and with dedication to do something good for their community,” Mason said. “I think it’s building a tradition of service that people get excited about.”
DerKosrofian, for one, is paying attention.
“In my education class last year, a middle school principal came into class and talked about how in the local community, 60% of kids are food insecure, and that’s just in our local neighborhood,” said DerKosrofian, who hopes to become a pediatric physician. “I want to get (other UNE students) more involved because we are fortunate to have food here, but many of those local school children do not.”
View media coverage of the event in the Biddeford Gazette, NEWS CENTER Maine, WGME CBS 13, and Yahoo! News.
Dining and Cooking