AUGUSTA — The Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Tourism Association have announced the launch of From Maine to Ukraine, a statewide relief program that will collect needed goods from Maine’s retailers, tourism and hospitality businesses, and residents that will be delivered to the people of Ukraine, according to a news release from the associations.

“We are all horrified and disturbed by the war in Ukraine and we were moved to try to help. I reached out to my counterparts at the Association of Retailers of Ukraine, and they have asked for help in the form of food and clothing. Our retailers can help provide the clothing, but we are asking Mainers for donations of shelf stable food and household goods,” said Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine.

While the clothing items are being donated by members of the Retail Association, Maine residents are asked to make donations of items like canned meat, energy bars, tea bags, candies, instant coffee, condensed milk, pet food, bars of soap, and dishes made of metal or hard plastic.

The Maine Tourism Association will accept donations at all seven Maine visitor information centers through Friday, April 1. The goods will be consolidated and shipped to a location in Poland near the Ukraine border for final distribution to the people of Ukraine.

The Maine Visitor Information Centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• 39 Union Street, Suite B, Calais, ME 04619;

• 97 Main St., US Rt. 302, Fryeburg, ME 04037;

• I-95 North Mile Marker 175, Hampden, ME 04444;

• I-95 South Mile Marker 179, Hampden, ME 04444;

• I-95 Exit 302, 28 Ludlow Rd., Houlton, ME 04730;

• I-95 and US Route 1, Kittery, ME 03904;

• US Route 1/Exit 17, I-295, 1100 US Route 1, Yarmouth, ME 04096; and

• Administrative Office — Maine Tourism Association, 327 Water St., Hallowell, ME 04347; open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For additional details, visit retailmaine.org.

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