Maine
Military
Authority
workers
and
friends
unload
the
over
1,000
pounds
of
food
collected
by
members
of
MSEA-SEIU
Local
1989
for
workers
laid
off
at
the
Limestone
facility.
Workers
at
the
Maine
Military
Authority
rebuild
military
equipment
at
significant
savings
compared
to
the
cost
of
the
U.S.
Government
buying
new
equipment.
One
hundred
fifty
workers
at
the
facility
were
laid
off
in
March.
Distribution
of
the
donated
food
will
continue
on
Saturday,
May
21,
from
10
a.m.
to
noon
at
the
old
Mecon
Manufacturing/First
Technology
Building
in
Caribou,
to
coincide
with
the
Caribou
City
Wide
Yard
Sale.
Laid-off
workers
at
Maine
Military
Authority
getting
over
1,000
pounds
of
food,
$1,700
in
gift
certificates
for
groceries
Members
of
the
Maine
State
Employees
Association,
Local
1989
of
the
Service
Employees
International
Union,
are
distributing
over
1,000
pounds
of
food
and
$1,700
worth
of
Hannaford
gift
certificates
among
the
150
Maine
Military
Authority
workers
laid
off
in
March.
"We
had
a
distribution
day
last
week
and
many
took
advantage
of
the
chance
to
stock
their
pantry
or
take
the
gift
cards
to
purchase
later,"
said
Cheri
Ouellette,
secretary
of
the
union
chapter
to
which
Maine
Military
Authority
workers
belong.
"We
are
having
a
second
distribution
day
on
Saturday,
May
21.
We
hope
to
help
most
of
those
left
who
were
not
able
to
take
advantage
(of
the
first
distribution
day)."
Continuing,
Ouellette
said,
"It's
a
way
of
life
in
Aroostook
County
to
help
out
others
when
we
can,
but
to
receive
it
is
something
else,
and
all
are
very
appreciative.
The
employees
here
at
Maine
Military
Authority
are
truly
thankful."
MSEA-SEIU
Local
1989
member
Irene
Chandler
helped
organize
the
food
drive
as
chair
of
the
union's
caucus
that
includes
workers
at
the
Maine
Military
Authority.
"State
employees
from
Dixfield
to
Calais
to
Fort
Kent
and
all
points
in
between,
pitched
in
to
help
these
workers
at
this
difficult
time,"
Chandler
said.
"It's
a
small
way
to
show
our
support
as
they
work
to
get
back
on
their
feet."
The
distribution
day
on
Saturday,
May
21,
will
take
place
from
10
a.m.
to
noon
at
the
old
Mecon
Manufacturing/First
Technology
Building
in
Caribou,
to
coincide
with
the
Caribou
City
Wide
Yard
Sale.