RUMFORD — One thousand boxes containing produce and a gallon of milk — all free — were loaded into vehicles Wednesday afternoon at Mountain Valley High School on a first come, first served basis.
A line half a mile long formed along Hancock Street for the distribution from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families program.
Allie Burke, executive director of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, said she arrived at 7 a.m. to help unload the truckload of food for the 9 a.m. distribution, but she soon learned the truck was on its way to Machias.
Rumford reserve police officer Doug Maifeld advised those waiting that the food would not be available until 1:30 p.m. He said the line along Hancock Street stretched for half a mile.
To facilitate the distribution, White’s Yardworks of Rumford volunteered to help unload the boxes.
Recipients were told to wear masks, stay in their vehicle and open the trunk or hatch for a volunteer to load a box.
A few boxes that remained after the distribution were delivered to interested people by volunteer Gary Dolloff who reached out through social media.
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