Before a recent March load-out, something unexpected arrived, 40,000 pounds of Aroostook potatoes.
This large donation came through Catholic Charities of Maine, supplied by McCain Foods, and it quickly became a clear picture of how partnership works both ways. Midwest Food Bank regularly sends food to Catholic Charities as one of its partner agencies. This time, that relationship came full circle.
“We’re just trying to help them out because they’ve been helping us out so much,” said Jon Blanchard of Catholic Charities. “They’ll ship us a load of food maybe once every five or six weeks. They’ve been doing that since the pandemic, so we’ve gotten a lot from them.”
The potatoes arrived just ahead of distribution and were quickly organized into bags and pallets. From there, they moved efficiently out to partner agencies across the region and then directly into the hands of people in need.
Moments like this highlight something deeper than logistics. They reflect a shared commitment between organizations that continue to support one another over time. When one part of the network is strengthened, the impact reaches far beyond a single location.
This donation was not just about volume. It was about trust, consistency, and the willingness to respond when an opportunity arises to serve others.
Through partnerships like this, food continues to move where it is needed most, carried by relationships built on mutual support and a shared calling to serve.
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