Many of Maine’s food manufacturers, retailers, distributors and farmers help to supply food for the hungry in communities throughout the state by making donations to Good Shepherd Food-Bank.
More than 270 companies are saving money and eliminating waste by donating their surplus or imperfect, yet edible, products to the Food-Bank. Last year, more than 9,245,570 pounds of food were donated by our food industry partners, helping to provide more than 7,223,101 meals to the more than 175,000 individuals in Maine who are hungry. Donations from our food industry partners are approximately 71% percent of the food that the Food-Bank distributed in fiscal year 2008/2009.
Donations of items due to surplus production, discontinuation, imperfect or underweight packaging and approaching expiration dates offer nutritious food to those in need while providing cost-savings in warehousing and disposal charges for food that otherwise would end up in a landfill. The Food-Bank is equipped to accept donations of dry, refrigerated and frozen products. Food donations to the Food-Bank are covered by national Good Samaritan laws. In addition, product donations generate tax benefits for participating companies.
The Food-Bank works diligently to establish essential partnerships with food industry donors. By partnering with the Food-Bank, food companies who make intentional donations receive significant savings while demonstrating good corporate citizenship and building community goodwill.
The Food-Bank’s Product Development Team will work with your company to coordinator the details of your donation, including pick-up, tracking and distribution. For information about becoming a Food Industry Partner, please contact Nancy Perry, Food Resource Coordinator, at (207)782-3554 or nperry@gsfb.org.
- Click for more information about the food donation process.
- Click here to download a Food Resource Packet.
Good Shepherd Food-Bank is fortunate to partner with many local and national food industry partners.
Hannaford Bros. Co. was our first food industry partner and has donated an extraordinary amount of food to the Food-Bank for over 25 years. Many other companies such as Barber Foods and Associated Grocers have been long time food donors to the Food-Bank.
In recent years, we have formed partnerships with Cherryfield Foods and Backyard Farms, demonstrating that small, Maine owned companies can make an enormous impact in Feeding Maine’s Hungry.
Most recently, the Food-Bank was awarded a JTG Foundation grant to help increase the quality and distribution of food in Maine by collaborating with more Maine-based food industry partners. Partnerships formed through the JTG Foundation Grant include: Nova Seafood, Cozy Harbor Seafood, and Pineland Farms.
