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Kennebec Valley Community College and Kennebec Valley Community Action Program distributed boxes of farm-grown produce for free to community members in need through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families program, aiming to connect families suffering from food insecurity with healthy and high-quality foods. (Submitted photo)
FAIRFIELD — Kennebec Valley Community College and Kennebec Valley Community Action Program teamed up Nov. 21, to distribute around 1,100 boxes of farm-grown produce for free to community members in need through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families program, aiming to connect families suffering from food insecurity with healthy and high-quality foods. The free food boxes each contained 12 lbs. of produce, 5 lbs. of meat, 5 lbs. of dairy, and a gallon of two percent milk, all grown from privately-owned farms. KVCC and KVCAP’s food boxes included meatballs, butter, milk, parmesan cheese, pomegranates, plums, and eggs.
The Farmers to Families program aims to connect families suffering from food insecurity with healthy and high-quality foods. The event was hosted in the college’s King Hall parking lot, with contactless delivery of food boxes to each vehicle.
Volunteers included program employees, college students, faculty and staff, and other area students, handed out boxes throughout the day, with around 1,100 food boxes given to local families suffering from food insecurity. “As a department, my officers and I were humbled to be able to provide logistical support and safety oversight for such an important and worthwhile cause,” shared Tim “Tug” McDonald, the college’s director of campus safety and security. “Food insecurity has impacted so many members of our community, we were honored to step in and volunteer our time. I feel very fortunate to work with such a dedicated and compassionate group of individuals.”
KVCC and KVCAP hope to offer this program again in the future, if available, to ensure their surrounding community members are able to access the vital and high-quality resources they need. “Working alongside members of my KVCAP Pre-K Team and KVCC volunteers to distribute food boxes during a difficult time for so many in our community was a rewarding and heartwarming experience,” shared Christina Stafford, KVCAP’s early childhood coach/supervisor and district lead for Albion, Clinton and Fairfield. “Every community member I spoke with shared how much these food boxes meant to them and how thankful they were that we hosted this event. The need was quite evident and I’m grateful that I was able to help in a small way.”
“I was excited to assist in the planning and implementing of a Farmers to Families truck in the Fairfield area. Our communities have been fortunate enough to have other organizations put together this same event and we as employees were happy to join them in order to serve more people in Central Maine,” shared Camden Davis, KVCAP’s MSAD49 family service coordinator.
For more information about the USDA Farmers to Families program, visit www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box. To learn more about KVCC, visit kvcc.me.edu. To learn more about KVCAP’s mission and assistance programs, visit www.kvcap.org.
