National Nutrition Month   This March, Good Shepherd Food-Bank, a member of America's Second Harvest - the Nations Food Bank Network, recognizes National Nutrition Month on behalf of over 166,000 of our Maine neighbors who at times, lack access to the food needed to lead an active, healthy life. Each day, our goal is to do more than just fill empty stomachs. Ultimately, we want to nourish peoples bodies with good, healthy food. National Nutrition Month is a time to educate and promote healthy food choices for the hungry Mainers served by our local agencies. On Thursday, March 20th, several of GSFB's leadership team will attend the annual Maine Nutrition Council HUNGRY FOR ANSWERS conference at the Augusta Civic Center. Rick Small, Executive Director of GSFB, will be lead a round table discussion about GSFB's efforts to provide nutritious food and essential supplies to Mainers who are struggling to meet their basic needs. DID YOU KNOW? An apple a day is out of reach for more than 70,000 Mainers each month. Nearly 12% of Mainers, or 166,000 people are food insecure; over 54,000 are children. GSFB distributes an average of 132,980 lbs of fresh produce and dairy products each month and is working hard to be able to provide even more of this highly nutritious food supply. GOOD NEWS: YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK! Over the past five weeks, GSFB had the amazing opportunity to save our 600+ agencies more than $100,000 by providing MORE food to meet the increasing needs! And, the Good News Gets Better:  We are continuing to keep prices for food that we have purchased on our agencies' behalf, at 50% of our own cost.  In addition, we have secured many items that will be FREE and needed by our agencies for the upcoming Easter and Passover Holidays. Thank you for your generous gifts of food and financial support. Your donations have made it possible for us to continue meeting the increasing needs all over Maine. These dollar savings will impact communities in a variety of ways and help our agencies to provide more services to families, kids, and the elderly that are relying on our help this winter.     view what some of our agencies had to say... Food Donor Spotlight:   Dorothy Egg Farms Dorothy Egg Farms of Winthrop, ME, owned and operated by John and Julia Lough, has been a partner of Good Shepherd Food-Bank for over 12 years. Each week, they pull their trucks up to our front doors and a friendly driver delivers a minimum of 2 cases, or 60 dozen eggs. This helps us to provide a great source of protein for our agencies - something so often lacking in the diets of those we serve.  Recently, Dorothy Egg Farms generously responded to a call to action from an initiative led by the United Egg Producers (UEP), The American Egg Board (AEB), and with GSFB's philanthropic partner, America's Second Harvest -The Nation's Food Bank Network...   more> PARTNERSHIP MATTERS An Investment to Benefit Maine's Hungry  Adam Dunbar, Financial Consultant for A. G. Edwards of Auburn, ME, recently made a $1,000 donation to Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Dunbar contributed $10 in honor of each of his top 100 clients as a thank you for their business. "Good Shepherd Food-Bank is a charity that I work closely with.  I serve as a member of the organization's Development Committee and believe in their mission to help feed hungry people and help the less fortunate in all our communities."  more> Photo Caption:  Adam Dunbar shows how much a $20 donation to Good Shepherd Food-Bank can provide. His $1,000 gift will provide 50 grocery carts like the one pictured, with a retail value of more than $12,500 Bangor Federal Credit Union - Distributing $11,500 Raised to Help End Hunger   On Wednesday, February 27th a special ceremony was held at the Bangor Federal Credit Union in Brewer to distribute funds raised by the Credit Union's Ending Hunger Committee to GSFB and area food cupboards. Stacey Young, Chairperson for the credit union's Ending Hunger Committee explained, "With the sky-rocketing costs of oil, many folks are being made to choose between heating their homes or eating.  With so many people needing food cupboard assistance, we really want to stretch our contribution as far as we can.  That's why when choosing the recipients of our donation, we purposely selected Good Shepherd Food Bank and food cupboards that are affiliated with them.  more> Backpack Program to Feed Hungry Kids After learning about The Maine Sea Coast Mission's "EdGE" backpack program through Good Shepherd Food-Bank this past summer, LL Bean's Community Relations Assistant, Marlene Hensley, along with Laurie Gilman, Community Relations Associate, coordinated a donation of slightly used rolling and regular book packs to support this essential children's feeding program.  The EdGE Program was thrilled with the rolling packs which will be especially helpful to the younger kids who find the backpacks heavy when filled with canned goods, juices, and supplies. A financial contribution was also made by LL Bean to Good Shepherd Food-Bank to help provide more food to more children throughout Maine. These funds will be applied to GSFB's Purchased Food Program, which helps fill the gaps of high need but low supply food items.   Focus on Nutrition More Food at Lower Costs! Food Donor Spotlight Partnership Matters Quick Links Get Involved About GSFB Agency Listing Newsletter Archive Make A Gift A moment to honor and remember... The staff, Board of Directors, and valued partners of Good Shepherd Food-Bank would like to take a moment to pay tribute to our dear founder, JoAnn E. Pike, at times referred to as the Mother Theresa of Maine, who made her way to heaven on March 17, 2004. JoAnn Pike founded Good Shepherd Food Bank in 1981 and initially ran the operation out of her Auburn home. Under her leadership, GSFB grew to become the largest hunger relief organization in Maine. Thank you all for keeping JoAnn's vision alive by your continued partnership and support. March 2004 JoAnn E. Pike special memorial issue> What if Good Shepherd Food-Bank had a penny for every time you searched the Internet... Now we can! Just go to: www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Good Shepherd Food Bank as the charity you want to support.  500 people searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! Join the Fiesta If you missed the Auburn Margarita's Full Moon Madness in February, you missed a lot of fun! Mark your calendar for the next one: Friday, March 21st. 5% of the Lounge proceeds will benefit Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Lots of prizes, games, and FUN too! Bangor Hydro FCU Gives Helping Hand Located in Hampden, Bangor Hydro Federal Credit Union is small but never fails to make a generous donation to Good Shepherd Food Bank. GSFB marketing manager Michel Kreder (right) received the $1,000 check from Carol McLauglin, Bangor Hydro Federal Credit Union assistant manager.