“Fill the Strand” event seeks support after weather cancellation
ROCKLAND — An annual food drive and fundraiser needs help meeting its goal after the storm on January 16 forced the event to cancel.
The “Fill the Strand” event in Rockland normally takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
For the past three years, the Strand Theatre has partnered with Area Interfaith Outreach Food and Energy Assistance to collect food for families in need and fill all 350 seats in the theater with a 10-pound bag of food.
However, organizers say that this year’s cancellation will make it more difficult for the non-profits to fill the seats and reach their $25,000 goal.
According to Joe Ryan, the executive director of Area Interfaith Outreach, collecting donations is essential to their goal of feeding the community.
“This event is one of the largest events that we have, of the year, that helps us sustain our food supply,” said Ryan. “The money that they give is making a substantial impact for many families.”
Ryan says AIO serves all of Knox County.
Hungry families are allowed to come into the AIO market and shop for food like they would in a grocery store — except everything they put in their carts is free of charge.
Ryan says that this is only possible with support from donors.
According to Liz McLeod, house manager at the Strand Theatre, food insecurity is a significant problem in the Knox County area, which is only worsened by the costs that come with Maine’s winter months.
“We all need to come together and work together, where we can, to reach parts of the community that haven’t been reached,” said Strand. “I know people who are hungry. I know people personally who have to decide whether they’re going to pay their rent or eat, and that’s no way to live.”
To support hungry Mainers, donors can purchase a $25 “seat sponsorship” in place of a bag of food at aiofoodpantry.org/strand, or donate food directly to AIO at 1A Gordon Drive in Rockland.
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