Hospital and food center officials declare second gadget drive a success

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Mayo Regional Hospital and the Piscataquis Regional Food Center (PRFC) collaborated for the groups’ second annual Gadget Drive during the months of October and November. Employees and community members collected more than 125 gadgets and raised $148 to purchase additional kitchen gadgets for clients of area food cupboards.

Many Mainers are struggling with food insecurity, and oftentimes these folks are also in need of kitchen basics.

“It can be a challenge to open a can without a can opener, to store leftover food without storage containers, and it can also be extremely difficult to follow a recipe without measuring spoons or measuring cups,” said Whitney Gould-Cookson, clinical dietitian at Mayo Regional Hospital.

Contributed photo
GADGET DRIVE — Theresa Makowski, left, and Whitney Gould-Cookson assemble kitchen tools for distribution after the second annual Gadget Drive. The drive was a collaboration between Mayo Regional Hospital and the Piscataquis Regional Food Center.

“Mayo Regional Hospital is committed to quality healthcare close to home, but we’re also committed to the people of this area in general. Kitchen gadgets are sometimes an overlooked necessity, but can certainly help promote and provide a healthier lifestyle,” Gould-Cookson said.

Theresa Makowski of PRFC and Shannon Fowles of Mayo Community Outreach joined Gould-Cookson to bring the first round of gadgets to the Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Cupboard (DFAFC) for distribution on Dec. 6.

On Dec. 17, using funds raised during the drive, organizers purchased enough kitchen gadgets to fill two shopping carts. These gadgets were distributed to the Milo Ecumenical Food Cupboard in Milo and the Unitarian Universalist Church Food Cupboard in Sangerville.

“It’s an honor for all of us at Mayo Regional Hospital to be able to give back in this way,” said Gould-Cookson. “This is a close community and we are proud to be a part of it.”