BATH

Late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, someone took a box full of items, intended for the United Way food drive, from outside Carleton Realty on Commercial Street.

Neither the United Way of Mid Coast Maine nor Carleton Realty is interested in determining who stole the food. They only want people to understand the plight of the hungry.

“We need to raise awareness of the problem, not of a malicious theft,” said Tom Blatz, campaign director for the United Way’s food drive. “Someone really needed it, and that speaks to how great the need is.”

Susan Hughes, an assistant at Carleton Realty, agreed that the need for food is great.

“This is a very, very tough time,” Hughes said. “Hopefully this will trigger a humanitarian effort.”

The box, provided by the United Way, was left outside the company’s door. A sign read, “food pantry donations for the United Way.”

The best thing people can do, Blatz said, is to donate to their local food pantries. A statewide hotline is set up to help people do just that.

“There are many food pantries around,” he said. “They can start by calling 211.”

To contact the United Way of Mid Coast Maine, call 443- 9752.

lgrard@timesrecord.com