Hundreds of volunteer’s pack 80,000 meals during Maine Day Meal Pack-Out

ORONO, Maine (WABI) - On Maine Day, around 500 volunteers gathered at the University of Maine’s Memorial Gym for the annual Maine Day Meal Pack Out. This year, the student-operated initiative packed 80,000 meals in just three hours.

“Each meal is fortified with a mineral and vitamin packet and then they always include a fruit or a veggie and soy protein, so each meal is nutritionally dense and shelf stable,” says Student Coordinator and Fundraising Chair of the UMaine Honors College.

The lead-up to the Maine Day event included a years-long fundraising effort to purchase ingredients. Around a dozen student coordinators from UMaine’s Honors College work closely with hundreds of volunteers which include fresh faces as well as returning alumni who volunteered in previous years.

“I’m a freshman so this is my first time participating in Maine Day. I think it’s a really awesome way to support our community and to just give back because so many community members do so much for us and to be part of something bigger than ourselves,” says student volunteer Sophie Miller.

Amanda Levesque, who helped to coordinate last year’s meal pack out, returned from Massachusetts to help contribute to her community.

“The students are what brought me back. This was my coordinating team that I’ve been able to see grow from the time that they were freshman and I was a sophomore up until now where I am a postgraduate. Having this opportunity to come back and basically feel not only the nostalgia but be able to help my community is really why I am here,” says Levesque.

Volunteers ranged from other parts of Maine, including members of Dexter Builders and Key Club who participated in the event. Outreach coordinator Jasper Makowski says that working with volunteers is one highlights of the Maine Day event.

“We have such a range of people here. We have people from athletic teams we have people who are looking for a way to get out of class, we have students from even Dexter who took time out of their day to drive an hour to be here. It’s very fun to see all the perspectives and how we all united by the fact that they want to help others,” says Makowski.

Organizers say that the Maine Day Meal Pack Out helps to benefit all parties involved, combating food insecurity across Maine, as well allowing coordinators and volunteers to engage in the community during the day of service.

“We call it a ‘win-win-win’ for three reasons. The 13 students who I work with all throughout the year, they’re gaining the experience on how to coordinate a large-scale event that they will take with them for the rest of their lives. The second reason is that it really rejuvenates the energy the service on campus. The third and most important reason is that we are feeding 80,000 meals to hungry Mainers and Maine is one of the most food insecure states,” says Ruth.

“We don’t just generate knowledge or educate people; we take that knowledge and turn it to the benefit of the people of Maine,” says Dean of Honors College Ellen Weinauer.

The 80,000 packed meals will be distributed to 26 food pantries across the state.