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Joleen Bedard, United Way of Androscoggin County executive director (left), presents a $6,500 check to Karen Eastman, Servant’s Heart Food Pantry director (left).
Submitted photo
LEWISTON — United Way of Androscoggin County, which serves both Androscoggin and Oxford counties, recently wrapped up a successful Day of Giving donation campaign to benefit area food pantries.
The goal of the campaign was to raise $10,000 to help rural food pantries purchase food to help meet the increased needs in the communities they serve. Donations to the campaign were matched with a separate $10,000 gift from the COVID-19 Response Fund.
“Food insecurity continues to be a challenge in our state, especially in rural areas where lack of transportation creates additional barriers for individuals and families in need,” said Joleen Bedard, Executive Director of United Way of Androscoggin County. “This targeted fundraiser helped us raise awareness of food insecurity in the counties we serve, and the matching donation effectively made the donations we received go twice as far!”