TD Banknorth Joins The Fight Against Hunger in Maine
Good-Shepherd Food-Bank received on Dec. 20 a major corporate donation from TD Banknorth, through the TD Charitable Foundation, that provide hundreds of thousands of meals for needy families and individuals throughout Maine. read more>
Hammond Tractor Company employees select GSFB
December 19, 2008
Hammond Tractor Company has donated $3,300 to local Maine charities this Christmas. In past years, the company has given employees yearly Christmas gifts.
With the need being so great this year, they decided to ask the employees to select a non-profit organization to donate to instead. The Auburn and Fairfield locations chose the Good Shepherd Food Bank, and the Union location decided on the United Mid Coast Charities. Each Hammond tractor Co. location presented a check for $1,100 to the charity of their choice.
Hammond Tractor hopes to make this a yearly tradition.
Maine Credit Union League once again comes through for
Good Shepherd’s food-mobile
Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s food-mobile depends totally on private gifts and grants to keep the emergency food program on the road. The food-mobile transforms into an emergency food pantry that responds as needed to emergency food situations caused by weather-related emergencies, plant closings and other events that put people’s food security at risk.
One of the program’s major supporters has been the Maine Credit Union League. In October, MCUL’s Campaign for Ending Hunger presented a $15,000 check to Good Shepherd Food-Bank to help drive the program during the upcoming months when food needs are expected to be at record high levels.
Jon Paradise, MCUL Government and Public Affairs Manager, made the presentation to Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s executive director, Rick Small at the Auburn facility.
Because of the support of MCUL, the food-mobile is provided at no cost to communities in need throughout Maine. MCUL represents over 65 credit unions throughout the state. Since 1990, the MCUL Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $2.7 million to help end hunger in Maine.
Photo: Jon Paradise, Maine Credit Union League, presents a check for $15,000 to Rick Small, executive director of Good Shepherd Food-Bank. The Good Shepherd food-mobile which the gift supports is behind them.
Pike Industries to hold food drive to benefit Good Shepherd Food-Bank
AUBURN, ME. Pike Industries will hold a food drive at each of its Maine locations to benefit Good Shepherd Food Bank’s work to feed Maine’s hungry.
Pike Industries, one of New England’s largest asphalt and aggregate materials producers in New England, is expanding its successful drive begun last year in New Hampshire. All proceeds of its drive in Maine will go to Good Shepherd Food-Bank.
The food drive concludes Nov. 14, so that donations can help feed needy Maine families and individuals around the Thanksgiving holiday. Good Shepherd Food-Bank distributed more than 10 million pounds of food last year to over 620 soup kitchens, food pantries and other partnering food relief efforts in Maine. The food-bank is preparing for what is expected to be an exceptionally difficult winter for Maine’s needy because of unprecedented increases in food and heating costs. Events such as the Pike Industries food drive help spread awareness of the hunger problem and raise financial support to help feed needy Maine families and individuals. Anyone interested in holding an event to benefit Good Shepherd Food-Bank can contact Bob Dodd, 782-3554, ext. 124.
Senator Snowe Visits Good Shepherd Food Bank
“Rising energy and food costs illuminate vital role of food banks in the community,” Senator Snowe says
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) toured Good Shepherd Food Bank (GSFB) in Auburn on Monday, June 30 and visited with staff, volunteers, and board members. Good Shepherd Food Bank operates on a total annual budget of $1.66 million used to gather and distribute food all across the state, serving 608 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. They recently announced the opening of a gated area in back of the warehouse called “In His Name Food Pantry” to provide food directly to the people. After touring the facility, Senator Snowe made a donation to the food bank and encouraged her fellow Mainers to do the same.
“I was humbled by the compassionate and hard-working service of the people of the Good Shepherd Food Bank,” Senator Snowe said. “As the price of energy and food continues to skyrocket, it is absolutely critical that Maine communities extend a helping hand and offer assistance to those feeling the strain of our stumbling economy. I encourage Mainers across the state to heed GSFB’s mission and give of their time and resources to help end hunger in the state of Maine.”
Leaders at GSFB came up with the idea of opening a food pantry due to worries over rising energy costs. Presently, the food bank supplies hundreds of soup kitchens, pantries and homeless shelters throughout Maine. “In His Name Pantry” opened June 30th and will be open 9 hours per week.
Photo: Senator Olympia J. Snowe with Good Shepherd Food Bank Executive Director Dr. Rick Small
Hannaford Supermarkets presents "Feed ME" food-drive results
July 17, 2008 - Auburn, ME
WCSH6 / WLBZ2 and Hannaford representatives visited GSFB's Auburn Facility on July 17 to present a check from the June "Feed ME" fundraising event.
WCSH6 and WLBZ2’s 2008 Feed ME event to benefit Good Shepherd Food-Bank was an amazing success!
More than 9,000 pounds of food was donated at the four Hannaford sites on Saturday, June 2nd!
Our sincere thanks to the people of Maine who gave so generously! We raised over $29,000 which GSFB can use to provide more than 140,000 meals to soup kitchens, food pantries, kids camps, and the hundreds of other agencies we support. Thank you to Hannaford, our Feed ME sponsor, for your support and the extra efforts put forth by all your associates and Hannaford shoppers.
Photo from left: Charlene Belanger (WCSH6), JoAn Chartier and Rick Small (GSFB), Mike Labbe & Tap Fitzgerald (Hannaford)
Maine Credit Union League - Shares The Bread
Good Shepherd Food-Bank and food pantries across the state received a boost to their summer feeding programs from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger recently.
On June 9th, agencies from eight of Maine’s southernmost counties were invited to a special 4th annual “Share the Bread” ceremony at Maine Credit Union League’s Westbrook office. Each agency was presented with a loaf of bread and a $500 check (the other kind of bread) by Jon Paradise, MCUL’s Governmental and Public Affairs Manager. The afternoon then brought agencies from eight northern counties to Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Brewer facility for another presentation of bread and money. Good Shepherd Food-Bank also received a $1,000 gift during the day. A total of $17,000 was given to 33 hunger relief agencies and was Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger’s largest single-day contribution to multiple organizations ever in Maine.
The Maine’s Credit Unions ‘Share the Bread’ event was created to recognize the efforts and provide significant financial support to food pantries across the state. The goal is also to bring a greater awareness to the issue of hunger in Maine, and especially the increase in need for food for Maine’s 65,000+ school children during summer vacation.
Through Good Shepherd Food-Bank, food pantries will each be able to acquire more than 3,000 lbs of food to help residents of their respective communities. These donations will have direct and positive impact in the lives of thousands of people all over Maine.
Pictured: Isaac Mann, Director of Seeds of Hope Food Pantry, (Bangor) recieves "bread" from MCUL Spokesman Jon Paradise.
This year's Share the Bread recipients are:
- Androscoggin: Leeds Food Pantry, Poland Community Church Food Pantry
- Aroostook: Aroostook Band of Mic Macs Food Pantry, Town of Ludlow Food Pantry
- Cumberland: The Root Cellar, South Portland Food Cupboard
- Franklin: Clearwater Ministries Food Pantry, Town of Carthage Food Pantry
- Hancock: Life Line Ministries Food Pantry, What's For Suppah Food Pantry
- Kennebec: North Monmouth Food Pantry, Windsor Foodbank
- Knox: Friendship-Cushing Food Pantry
- Lincoln: St Philip's Church Food Pantry, Waldoboro Food Pantry
- Oxford: Norway Nazarene Ministries Food Pantry, Riverside UMC Food Pantry
- Penobscot: St Anne's –St Anne's-Penobscot Nation DHS Food Pantry, Seeds of Hope Food
Pantry - Piscataquis: Living Word Community Food Cupboard, U MC Ecumenical Food Cupboard-Milo
- Sagadahoc: Bath Area Food Bank Food Pantry ,Shepherd of Faith Food Pantry
- Somerset: Skowhegan Community Food Pantry, Tri-town food Cupboard-Hartland
- Waldo: Neighbor's Cupboard, Little River Baptist Church Food Pantry
- Washington: St. Anne's – Indian Township Food Pantry, Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food
Pantry - York: St. Mary's Ecumenical Food Pantry,Wells, York County Food Rescue
Hannaford CEO Is Honored
On May 9th, Ron Hodge, CEO, Hannaford, received the 2008 JoAnn Pike Humanitarian Award at Good Shepherd Food Bank (GSFB) in Auburn. Named for the food bank’s late founder, the award criteria notes, Ron Hodge has made notable and significant contributions in enriching the lives of others. Over 400 people attended the celebration that honored an outstanding community leader and advances a great cause.
GSFB Executive Director, Rick Small, said, “We’re proud to honor Ron Hodge. He is a man most deserving of the 2008 JoAnn Pike Humanitarian Award; a man dedicated to the service of others. JoAnn Pike’s partnership with Ron and Hannaford has made Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s mission of “Feeding Maine’s Hungry”, possible.” Under Ron Hodge’s leadership, Hannaford’s contribution to Good Shepherd Food- Bank has grown to 8 million pounds of food donations annually. This represents 60% of food distributed by Good Shepherd each year.
In addition to Good Shepherd Food-Bank, Ron has given his leadership and support to organizations such as United Way, YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, MS Association, Kidney Foundation, American Heart Association and Maine Medical Center. In receiving the award, Ron Hodge said: “ I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this award. JoAnn was one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known and Hannaford’s partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank has always been a perfect fit.”
Good Shepherd Food-Bank helps to feed more than 70,000 people each month through an efficient processing operation, and a network of more than 600 hunger-relief agencies throughout Maine . With their strong network and in-kind support, a $10 donation to Good Shepherd provides 48 meals to people in Maine. The food bank’s work alleviates critical needs for children, senior citizens and others facing harsh choices between heat, medicine, food, or other essential needs. Good Shepherd Food-Bank is dedicated to eliminating hunger in our communities and is committed to the fundamental stand that no one should go hungry in Maine.
Photo Caption: From Left: Ron Hodge, CEO Hannaford receives JoAnn Pike Humanitarian Award from Rick Small, Executive Director, Good Shepherd Food-Bank and Diane Dunton, GSFB Board Chair
Relief for Fort Kent Area Flood Victims
May 1, 2008 - When Good Shepherd Food-Bank heard of the recent flooding crisis in Fort Kent and surrounding areas, it was “all hands on deck” at GSFB's warehouse in Auburn, Maine. A tractor trailer was quickly loaded with more than 30,000 pounds of food supplies and water to get help to the many who were displaced from their homes, without electricity or food, and to help the emergency workers in the area as well. Food bank drivers were on the road within hours, bringing ready-to-eat type foods, soups, canned meat, pastas, precooked items, protein items, and easily prepared foods. Careful attention was given to pack items that could provide good nutrition considering the possible lack of cooking power and/or water. Plenty of bottled water was included in the delivery and another 35,000 pounds of food left on Friday, to arrive in the area early Saturday morning.
Good Shepherd Food-Bank Agency Relations Director, Jason Hall, said “As soon as we heard about the flooding, we all knew what to do and everyone sprung into action.”
Catholic Charities in Caribou offered to help receive and warehouse some of the product for distribution to local areas. Jason Hall, and food bank employee Mark Bucher are on site and have been making trips using a smaller van to bring product into towns where the roads couldn’t accommodate the tractor trailer truck.
Jason Hall called the food bank office on Friday morning and said it’s no wonder food bank employees often say that their work is “more than food” “What we’re seeing and hearing from folks here is our help is bringing a degree of hope and comfort to those who are facing desperate situations right now. And we’ve assured them, we’ll continue to send as much help as we’re able in the coming weeks ahead.”
Food-Bank's Gift Seeds Hope for Bangor Residents
To better serve increasing need for Bangor families who struggle to put food on their tables, Good Shepherd Food-Bank (GSFB) presented an upright freezer to the Seeds of Hope Food Pantry recently. The event was celebrated on Valentine's day at Good Shepherd Food-Bank's Brewer facility. Isaac Mann, Director of the Ohio Street, Bangor pantry received the food-bank's gift and said the freezer's capacity to hold 600 pounds of food will enable Seeds of Hope Food Pantry to store & distribute meats & other frozen product that until now, was not an option for the pantry.
Mann said "Community needs continue to be on the rise and people are making the choice to heat or eat right now. We're distributing between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds of food each week and we continue to see new faces seeking our help. We're thrilled to be able to provide meats and protein items that will make a significant difference to so many families in our community."
Good Shepherd Food-Bank said their ability to make this gift is directly attributed to Mainers who gave generously throught the holiday season. The food-bank's work is carried out in local communities by the dedicated services of partner agencies.
Good Shepherd's Brewer facility began its operation in 1999 and now provides food to more than 130 agencies in the North East part of Maine. In 2007, over one million meals were provided to agencies in the greater Bangor region. Overall, more than 10.4 million pounds of food was supplied to more than 600 agencies throughout the state. Other types of programs supported by the food bank include soup kitchens, group and foster homes, homeless and abuse shelters, and many programs for children and the elderly.
Pictured: From Left: GSFB's Brewer Warehouse Manager, Dan Holmes, Isaac Mann , Director, Seeds of Hope Food Pantry, and Michel Kreder, GSFB Marketing Manager.
Backpack Program Helps More Children
Les Stanwood, Backpack Coordinator for The Maine Sea Coast Mission's "EdGE" program, is committed to helping meet the huge challenge of providing meals to underprivileged children during the school year and appreciates the extra help they received recently.
The EdGE program, name for the Ed Greaves Education Centers, is a member agency of Good Shepherd Food-Bank, and provides in-school, after school, and summer programs for middle school aged children throughout Washington County. The goal of EdGE is to improve academic performance, increase confidence, and build character amoung the youth they serve. One part of the EdGE program is a discreetly organized back-pack program which allows a child to bring home a pack filled with food, supplied by the Maine Sea Coast Mission and Good Shepherd Food-Bank.
Each Friday, during school months, specific children are given these backpacks filled with kid-friendly foods. Each week, approximately sixteen children are helped through this program. more>
