At its November board meeting, the Maine Lobster Festival Board of Directors donated a total of $8,250 to six organizations that provide community services.

Area Interfaith Outreach received $1,500. AIO meets the emergency needs of families and individuals in Knox County, providing food and vouchers for heating and electricity. This donation will be used to purchase food.

St. George Community Cupboard received $1,500. The Community Cupboard is a food pantry serving the residents of St. George, providing those in need with food and hygiene supplies at no cost. The food pantry is at 47 Main Street in St. George and is open Thursdays, 2-7pm.

Trekkers received $1,500. Trekkers is an outdoor-focused youth mentoring program in Midcoast Maine. This donation will benefit its LEAP (Launching Empowered and Aspiring Professionals) program. It partners with local businesses, professionals and nonprofits to provide high school students with the skills to identify career options and realize their aspirations.

Rockland District Nursing Association received $1,500. RDNA provides in-home nursing services for seniors living in Rockland, Thomaston, South Thomaston, Owls Head, St. George, Cushing, Warren, and Union. Throughout the year, residents are served over 2,000 times.

Toys for Tots received $1,500. Toys for Tots is a national organization led by the U.S. Marine Corps that collects toys to give less fortunate kids a good Christmas. All toys collected locally will benefit kids from approximately 300 families in Knox County.

Meals on Wheels received $750. Meals on Wheels delivers hot, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to home-bound seniors and disabled individuals in Knox County. Last year, the organization delivered over 25,000 meals to residents.

About the Maine Lobster Festival

Five days of fun and feasting on the fabulous coast of Maine, the Maine Lobster Festival attracts thousands of people to the Midcoast region and has a long tradition of giving back to the local community. In recent years, the festival committee has given more than $500,000 to Midcoast Regional Child Development Services, Trekkers, Meals on Wheels, and many other organizations. The 2019 Festival will be July 31-August 4. For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, visit the website at www.mainelobsterfestival.com, “like” them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter at @MELobsterFest.