NEWS | UNE students and volunteers pack more than 200,000 meals for food pantries across Maine

The annual event is part of the National Day of Service, a program aimed at honoring lives lost and transforming a tragedy into a series of good deeds across the country

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

Walking into the gymnasium at the University of New England’s Biddeford campus on Wednesday morning felt like walking into a high-functioning assembly line at a manufacturing plant.

But the workers in UNE’s gymnasium were not packing valves, silicone chips or Amazon delivery orders – instead these volunteers were assembling more than 50,000 meals that will be distributed to food pantries in each of Maine’s 16 counties.

The event is part of the Sept. 11 National Day of Service, a series of events nationwide that honors the memory of all the lives lost 25 years ago when the United States was attacked by terrorists.

According to the 911 Day website, the annual series of events is intended to “transform the anniversary of one of our darkest days in history into America’s largest day of doing good.”

On UNE’s Biddeford campus, several community members joined more than 100 other volunteers – including students, faculty and staff – spending more than two hours sorting and loading packets of beans and rice to help feed hungry people in Maine.

VOLUNTEERS at UNE campus packed more than 50,000 meals while volunteers at the school’s Portland campus packed an additional 150,000 meals.

A similar event on UNE’s Portland campus later in the day was expected to draw more than 350 more volunteers. In total, organizers say that UNE – with the help of roughly 500 volunteers — will be able to provide more than 200,000 meals to those facing food insecurity.

This is the fourth year that UNE has participated in the program that is funded in part by grant money from 9-11.org, AmeriCorps and other organizations.

Trisha Mason, UNE’s director of Service Learning, coordinates the event each year, and said that UNE was one of the very first schools in the country to take part in what has become a growing hunger-relief effort, especially meaningful as the nation reflects upon the 25th anniversary of 9-11,

“The spirit and heart of this community makes it possible for us to grow the program each year,” Mason said. “It’s that community spirit, which makes this event a fun and easy way to come together in support of others.”

On Wednesday, the volunteers worked non-stop against a backdrop of music and laughter, lining both sides of long tables as they sorted through several pallets containing tons of rice and beans.

Kaidyn Clough, a freshman student from Haverhill, Mass., is a member of UNE’s swimming and diving teams and studying physical therapy with the hopes of earning a Ph.D.

She was just one of the many students packing food on the Biddeford campus Wednesday morning.

“This is really uplifting and a great way to spend my time,” Clough said. “I’m constantly busy with classes and sports, and I wanted to be better connected with my community. I jumped onto this project with both feet because it’s a much better use of my time than rotting in my dorm room.”

**KAIDYN CLOUGH**, a UNE freshman, said she was happy to volunteer instead of just “rotting away in my dorm.” | *Biddeford Gazette photo by Randy Seaver*

Once the food is packed and sorted at UNE’s Biddeford and Portland campuses, volunteers from the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation will take over and coordinate the distribution of the more than 200,000 prepared meals.

Susan Scacchi, executive director of the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation, said her organization works with Masonic temples in communities across Maine that each have existing partnerships with local food pantries.

Albert Farms – a Madawaska-based food trucking company — will donate their time and services to help get the food to pantries across the state.

“This is fun, and it really feels good to help others,” Clough said.

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