"Special Delivery" from Pat LaMarche

Augusta, Maine — On May 30, gubernatorial candidate Pat LaMarche delivered much-needed baby supplies to Augusta’s Bread of Life shelter, which provides housing for approximately 150 children each year.

Pat LaMarche with John Applin,
Director of the Bread of Life shelter
in Augusta

 

Baby supplies contributed to the
shelter by Maine Greens

With so many infants housed at the Bread of Life shelter right now, the shelter is experiencing a shortage of essential items such as diapers, which are surprisingly expensive.

LaMarche, who spent two weeks sleeping in homeless shelters during her 2004 vice presidential campaign, joined shelter director John Applin to ask Mainers to contribute these essentials to Bread of Life. "I've met far too many homeless babies in shelters. We should never forget how much these infants need us and rely on us. This isn't a political issue — it's a humanitarian crisis," said LaMarche.

LaMarche used her two-week tour of shelters in 2004, dubbed the Left Out Tour, to raise donations for homeless shelters according to local need. In Arkansas, she helped re-stock the local food bank and in Tennessee she responded to a need for bedding.

LaMarche asked members of the Maine Green Independent Party to bring baby items for homeless infants to the party's May convention in Portland where she delivered the keynote address. On May 29, she delivered these items — including diapers, food, baby wipes and hand-knitted caps — to the Bread of Life Shelter.

"Babies living in poverty without a roof over their heads is a tragedy. I hope all Mainers will join me in helping make life a little bit easier for these little ones," said LaMarche.

Note: The Bread of Life Shelter is still in need of donations and diapers for homeless infants. Please send your contributions to: Bread of Life Shelter, 157 Hospital Street, Augusta, Maine 04330.