Grist Mill collecting for Skowhegan Food Cupboard

  SKOWHEGAN – The Somerset Grist Mill in downtown Skowhegan will collect food and cash contributions for the Skowhegan Food Cupboard during the month of September.  The Greater Somerset Public Health Collaborative and United Way of Mid-Maine are offering the program which connects local businesses and area food cupboards in an effort to provide nutritional support to those who live in the region.  Main Street Skowhegan, Skowhegan Rotary, Madison Business Alliance and Norridgewock Chamber of Commerce have endorsed the project.

  “Our Somerset County food cupboards and their many volunteers are a blessing to local communities and many of our citizens,” Bill Primmerman, Director of the Great Somerset Public Health Collaborative said.  “It is very fitting to have the Grist Mill as this month’s place for collecting food.  Buying locally grown food supports the local economy, keeping resources close to home.  If people can donate some of their locally gown items as well as the traditional donations, everyone wins.”

   Amber Lambke, owner of the Somerset Grist Mill building (formerly the Somerset County Jail) with business partner Michael Scholtz, is eager to take part in this program.  “All our businesses support community commerce and build on community strengths.  This food collection effort is right in line with our goals,” Lambke said.

  The anchor business for the building is Maine Grains which will mill local grains and sell grain products.  Two other agriculture related businesses are housed in the building:  The twice-weekly Skowhegan Farmers Market and The Pickup, which purchases food from 20 area farms for weekly deliveries of “shares” to community members. 

  Additional businesses include a pottery studio, The Tech Spot where middle and high school students provide free computer help to community members and Happyknits, a yarn and knitting supplies shop that also offers knitting classes and informal knitting sessions.  The food collection shelves will be placed inside the Happyknits entrance to the building on Court Street and a can for cash donations to the Skowhegan Food Pantry is available on the Happyknits counter.