ROCKLAND – On Feb 5, 2019, innkeepers, restaurant owners, volunteers, and business members who participated in the 15th Annual Pies on Parade Pie Weekend presented a check to the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program for $35,000 representing all ticket sales, silent auction, raffle sales, cash donations and Camden Scavenger Hunt proceeds from the annual pie tour. This brings the total donations for AIO’s food and fuel assistance programs to more than $221,000 from the Pies on Parade’s fifteen-year tenure.

A record number of people attended the 15th Annual Pie Tour, and all 700 tickets were sold prior to the event, indicating the “pie-passion” among those living in and visiting Rockland on a January Sunday.  More than 50 varieties of pies were baked and an estimated 15,000 pieces of pie were consumed by tour goers who ended the tour pie-eyed and happy.

More than one hundred lodging properties, restaurants and businesses from Rockland and Camden collectively donated more than 1000 hours of time and thousands of dollars in products and services to ensure a sizable donation could be made to the food pantry once again this year.  In addition to pies, many businesses donated  gift certificates, gifts, artworks, overnight stays and other items to the silent auction and Camden scavenger/trivia hunt from businesses throughout the Midcoast, raising well over $5600 toward the total donation.  Maritime Energy matched the $2,500 raised from cash donations dropped into the oil can-collection jars and the special events during the pie tour.  Plus, companies like Blueberry Broadcasting and 44 Business Capital, A Division of Berkshire Bank, Huhtamaki Manufacturing and All Aboard Trolley offered cash support and services.  More than 50 AIO Food Panty volunteers were on hand to help on Pie Day too.

“This was a very special year for the Pie Tour,” said Cheryl Michaelsen, co-owner of the Berry Manor Inn and Historic Inns of Rockland member. “More than ever before, Pie Tour attendees took the time to thank each of the businesses involved.  We were thrilled to have expanded the Camden Scavenger Hunt and the Silent Auction and are humbled and thankful for all the support from a record number of participating businesses who supported the weekend-long Pie Tour this year,” she said. 

“The community spirit embraced by Midcoast businesses and even some outside of the Midcoast, to help those in need was remarkable this year.” Said PJ Walter, co-owner of the LimeRock Inn. “The Pie Tour expanded into a weekend-long series of events, and it just keeps getting larger and larger.”

“With need for food and oil at an all-time high, especially in the winter, we’re happy that pies could once again translate to nourishment, personal care items and heat for needy Midcoast families,” said Historic Inns of Rockland member and co-owner of the Granite Inn, Ed Hantz. 

The 16th Annual Pies on Parade event promises to rival this year’s extravaganza of pie and community spirit, with a record number of pie-stops and special pie-themed events anticipated.  Scheduled for Sunday, January 26, 2020, 1:00-4:00pm, Pies on Parade 2020 tickets are already on sale online at www.PiesonParade.com. Lodging packages including tickets are available for the three-day weekend.