CARRABASSETT VALLEY — The quote from Rose Scribner in the Bangor Daily News on Nov. 21 said it all: "We sent out the last bag we had earlier this week… We are empty - -completely empty." Scribner is the director of the Indian-Women's Mission Center on Indian Island and she was talking about the food pantry that serves the Penobscot Indian Reservation on Indian Island.

Neal Trask of Carrabassett Valley saw the article and knew something needed to be done. Later that day, Trask caught up with Bill Munzer of the J.V. Wing Snowmobile Club and Peter Weston of the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association and reminded them that "the Penobscot Indians own a significant portion of the land in this area and they freely allow us to enjoy this land for all types of recreational activities. We should show our appreciation by helping them out in their time of need."

Munzer and Weston heartily agreed with Trask, and the three went to work. Neal called Scribner the next day and she was very pleased that the two organizations were willing to make a donation. Munzer then got on the phone to the Hannaford Bros store in Old Town and arranged to have 25 frozen turkeys and 25 food boxes purchased by J.V. Wing and CVOA, and picked up at the store by the Indian Island food pantry.

It took multiple phone calls to make it all come together but with the fantastic help of two managers at the Hannaford Bros store in Old Town, the food arrived in plenty of time for Thanksgiving.

"Additional donations will be made in the future to this food pantry, as this is a good cause. In these difficult times, we should all help those in need. It's a small gesture to show our appreciation to the Penobscot Indians for being such good neighbors in Carrabassett Valley," said Munzer.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Indian Island food pantry can either drop off nonperishable foods at the mission center after calling Scribner at 827- 0230, or send a check make out to the Indian Women's Mission Center at 19 West St., Indian Island, Old Town, Maine 04468.