Fresh Produce, Meats, Milk to be Distributed Wednesday in Bangor

Boxes filled with fresh meat, fruits and vegetables, as well as milk, will be distributed Wednesday in Bangor.

Once again, Brick Church Ministries in Bangor is in charge of handing out boxes of food to anyone who wants them. It's all part of the USDA Farmers to Families program, that aims to get the freshest food to those in need, during the pandemic. Each box is free and contains 12 pounds of fresh produce, 5 pounds of meat, and a gallon of milk. It's healthy, nutritious food that will stock your pantry and fill your freezer.

The Brick Church Ministries has been handling this distribution for the past few weeks, and so they have it down to a science. The boxes will be available for pickup on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cross Insurance Center parking lot. (no earlier than 11) If you were there last time, this is in a different part of the lot. Take the third Buck Street entrance and follow the signs. Manna's Executive Director Bill Rae says they'll have enough for everyone, as their distribution has doubled to 2200 boxes. There's no income requirement and no one's going to ask you questions. If you want a box, you can have it. Rae says they ran out of food last time, and so the order has been doubled to 2,200 boxes. They're available to any family (1 per family), individual, food pantry, or client-based group.

The Farmers to Families program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to help families in areas that have been significantly impacted by the closure and limiting of food service businesses. The USDA is purchasing billions of dollars' worth of fresh produce, dairy, and meat products from American producers and putting together boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh dairy products, and meat products to be distributed to anyone in need. The food is then being distributed by local food pantries, non-profits, and faith-based organizations like Brick Church Ministries of Bangor.