Dozens of volunteers met at Preble Street Resource Center in Portland Wednesday to unload more than 50 tons of donated food for the organization's three soup kitchens.Those volunteers included individuals, teams from local companies, and at least one extended family group that gathered in Maine from around the country for the holiday.
"There's a lot of people who don't have enough to really survive, and we have a lot," says Eileen Glassmeyer, a teacher in Worcester, Massachusetts. "I think it's important that everybody tries to share - if not their money, then their time and their energy to help people out."
Also among the volunteers was Maine independent U.S. Sen. Angus King. "Well, I've been here every year for the past 3 or 4 or 5 years," he says, "and it's just something hands-on that you can do for people."
Preble Street food programs director Joe Conroy says the food drop goes a long way toward getting Preble Street's food program through the winter - and it's especially valuable during the holiday season.
"This is a tough time of year for a lot of our clients," Conroy says. "It's a hard time for a lot of people who are out on the street. And we're just glad we can provide food and shelter for the people who need it the most."
According to Preble Street, this drive brings in more than 100,000 pounds of food every year. The organization serves three meals a day, every day, and distributes emergency groceries to 200 families every week through its food pantry.
This is the fourteenth year for the food drive. It's put on by the longtime area radio personality Chuck Igo and his station, Rewind 100.9.
