Blog
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Maine Gives.
Maine was recently named the most peaceful state in the country. I suspect that, if we could measure the giving spirit across states, we would come out quite high in that regard as well. Unfortunately, we also have 1 in 4 kids who are undernourished because their families cannot provide ...
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Food Donor Spotlight: Walmart Distribution Center
Hello again! Barbara here - the Food Resource Developer for Good Shepherd Food Bank. I work with businesses like the Walmart Distribution Center (DC) in Lewiston to help them donate product that would otherwise be thrown away.
My co-worker Nancy Perry and I recently attended the Walmart DC's General Meeting ...
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Bringing BackPacks to Auburn
As Program Manager for Child Hunger Initiatives at Good Shepherd Food Bank, I tell people constantly about the childhood food insecurity crisis here in Maine. Though the groups and individuals I talk to are always different, the distress and disbelief people express when they hear that 1 in 4 children ... -
Getting to Know our Neighbors - a Tour of Tambrands in Auburn
The Tambrands plant on Hotel Road in Auburn is imposing. I've always wondered what was behind the blue walls with the tinted windows, and recently I had the opportunity to find out.
I'm the Food Resource Developer for Good Shepherd Food Bank. I work with businesses like Tambrands ...
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Building Local Capacity: First Ever State Network Conference
The reason that Good Shepherd Food Bank was able to distribute 13 million pounds of food to families in need in 2011 is simple - our partnerships with local hunger relief organizations across the state.
The hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters that we work with are on the ...
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Harvest for Hope
Spring is in the air today, but as Mainers we know that, most likely, winter isn't done with us yet. Nonetheless, here at Good Shepherd Food-Bank we are planning for the warmer months ahead.
This summer, Good Shepherd Food Bank will once again partner with Maine farmers and food ... -
Hard Choices: Heat or Eat?
Winter in Maine can be a difficult time. Whether we are pummeled by snow storms or whether, like this year, we are lucky enough to have a mild winter, many families find themselves making tough choices. Faced with a tight budget and high utility costs, many Mainers are forced to ... -
Food Mobile - coming to a community near you!
2011 was an outstanding year for Good Shepherd Food-Bank's Food Mobile Program! Our two Food Mobiles hit the road a total of 94 times delivering over 600,000 lbs of food, and setting a new record for number of deliveries in one year.
Thanks to Mainers Feeding Mainers, the ...
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Partner Agency Spotlight: Crossroads Ministries
The Food Bank's partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters are on the front lines of fighting hunger across Maine. This guest blog post comes to us from Keith Whitmore, pantry director at Crossroads Ministries in Old Town.
Crossroads Ministries of Old Town was founded 20 years ago ...
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Resolve to make a difference in 2012
One of the more popular New Year's resolutions, even for those of us who don't make New Year's resolutions, is to simplify our lives by cleaning out - giving more to others and keeping less for ourselves. Throughout the holiday season we hear about the contributions people make ...
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A token of our appreciation
One of the things we are most thankful for at the Food Bank is our dedicated group of volunteers.
Distributing millions of pounds of food throughout the state of Maine is no small task, and one that we could not dream of accomplishing without the near 500 volunteers who joined ...
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Your small gestures are making a big difference
During this time of year, you'll hear people talk about the "holiday spirit" - that intangible feeling floating in the air from Thanksgiving through New Years Day. One reason why I love this mood that people share during the holidays is because everyone seems to take a moment to slow ...
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No contest when it comes to holiday giving
As the holidays approach, there is no shortage of charitable giving opportunities. The spirit of the season brings out a desire in all of us to give gifts to our families and friends. Many nonprofits are hopeful that we will also pause and reflect on those who do not have ...
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National Kids Café Program Debuts in Maine
Last week Good Shepherd Food Bank and Mission Possible Teen Center celebrated the launch of Maine’s first Kids Café at the Teen Center in Westbrook with an open house event that welcomed the whole community.Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to witness the teens in their natural habitats ...
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It's Time to Talk Turkey!
With T
hanksgiving quickly approaching, there is quite a bit of Turkey Talk going on around the Food Bank. Distributing 10,000 turkeys to hundreds of nonprofit organizations across Maine is no small feat; it takes a great deal of work on the part of many people here at the ... -
Remembering the Givers
We are truly blessed to live in a country where the national heart is open to giving and helping when help is needed. Because of the nature of my work, I see the givers and their work constantly.
Good Shepherd Food Bank distributes vast amounts of food throughout the state ...
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Fighting Childhood Hunger, One Backpack at a Time
As the workweek winds down, most of us are looking forward to a weekend filled with relaxation, fun, and quality time with our families. Imagine if Friday brought uncertainty and anxiety about stretching your food dollars to last through the weekend. This is a reality for many families that utilize ...
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Why Cooking Matters in the fight to end hunger
Last year, Good Shepherd Food-Bank launched Cooking Matters for Maine in partnership with Share Our Strength, a national non-profit committed to ending childhood hunger in America. Cooking Matters mobilizes chefs and other community volunteers to teach low-income families how to prepare healthy, delicious meals on a budget. The University of ...
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GSFB Food Mobile on the Go
Thanks to the generosity of supporters like the Doree Taylor Foundation, Elizabeth Ann Leach Charitable Trust, and the Maine Credit Union League, Good Shepherd Food Bank's Food Mobile has had a very busy summer. From June 1st to August 31st, we delivered nearly 205,000 lbs of ...
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Everyone Has a Part to Play in Ending Hunger
When I'm speaking with people in the community about the donations we receive at Good Shepherd Food-Bank, I often say that I consider the checks for $5 just as important - if not more important - than the checks for $50,000. The cynics among us may think this comment seems ...