Maine's Credit Unions, Good Shepherd Food-Bank Mark Milestone...
Food Mobile Brings More Than 1 Million Pounds Of Food To Maine's Hungry
(Auburn) – Monday, October 5, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, in partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank, celebrated the fourth anniversary of Maine’s first and only “Food Mobile.” The occasion marked another milestone as it was announced that the Food Mobile has now distributed 1,129,540 lbs pounds of food to food pantries throughout Maine since its inception in 2005.
The event also served as an opportunity to prepare for upcoming Ending Hunger initiatives, and to share ideas on how to raise even more funds in the year ahead. Ending Hunger Representatives received a tour of the food-bank, and were addressed by Diane Dunton, President/Chair of Good Shepherd’s Board of Directors. Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine Credit Union League, said that events such as this are evidence of the work being done to ensure that that the problem of hunger in Maine doesn’t go unnoticed. “The Food Mobile has proven to be an invaluable resource to Maine’s food pantries, not only because high gas and oil prices, but throughout the winter months when the truck will be able to go to the more remote food pantries that may be unable to send someone to pick up food. Now more than ever, it is a powerful tool in our efforts to end hunger in Maine,” Paradise explained.
Since 1990 the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $3.1 million to help end hunger in Maine. Formed in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League is the State Trade Association for Maine’s 67-member credit unions providing a variety of services and products to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership.
Good Shepherd Food-Bank Replaces Freezer System
at
Brewer Food Distribution Facility
Project Funded in Part by the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation
[Brewer, ME] – With the help of funds obtained through a grant from the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation, Good Shepherd Food-Bank has replaced the outdated freezer system at its Brewer Food Distribution Facility. The replacement of this freezer system will help to avoid an emergency response situation due to a system break-down, resulting in the diversion of funds critically needed for meeting the rising food needs of Maine’s neediest families in the current economic crisis. “One of the key pieces to our ability to distribute nutritious food to our 170 partner agencies in this region of the state is the ability to maintain frozen product that is made available to the agencies,” remarked Rick Small, executive director of the Food-Bank. “We are grateful to the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation for their enormous generosity. Without this freezer unit, the frozen food product available to our agencies in this area of the state would be insufficient.” Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Brewer facility began its operation in 1999 thanks to a grant received from the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation in 1998. This facility serves approximately 170 of the Food-Bank’s 600+ partner agencies, most of which are located in northern and northeastern Maine. Through funding from the Stephen &Tabitha King Foundation, the Food-Bank has been able to eliminate hunger for thousands of Maine’s needy families and individuals. In 2008, the Brewer facility distributed more than 1.3 million pounds of food which is equivalent to over one million meals.
TD Banknorth holds Food and Funds Drive
July 2009
The TD Banknorth Operations Center recently chose the Food-Bank as the recipient for its quarterly Community Project. As part of the project, the TD Banknorth team collected 429 pounds of food and $772.40 in donations – helping to provide more than 4,100 meals for Mainers in need.
Because the collection for the Food-Bank was the most successful of its Community Projects so far, the TD Banknorth team plans to hold a food and fund drive again next year. Thank you to the TD Banknorth team!
BelTek Arts & Music Festival
benefits Good Shepherd Food-Bank
Organizers of the BelTek Arts & Music Festival presented Good Shepherd Food-Bank with a $2,000 donation. Funds were raised from ticket sales from the festival held July 31-August 2 in Belmont, Maine. BelTek is an all ages, multi-day, multi-genre art and music festival. This year the festival hosted over 45 performers from all over the world. Close to 1800 individuals of all ages attended the event.
Festival organizers were pleased with the results and believe that the festival has met its goal of becoming a force for good in the state of Maine. For more information about the BelTek Arts & Music Festival, visit www.beltekfestival.com.
Feed ME Food Drive a Huge Success
WCSH 6 personalities broadcasted live from four Hannaford Supermarket locations in Brewer, Portland, Lewiston, and Sanford for the 4th Annual Feed ME food drive, held Saturday, June 20.
Thanks to the support of generous community members, the Food-Bank collected enough food and funds the day of the event to provide more than 39,000 meals for the needy – and because donations were collected at the registers at all Hannaford locations throughout the month of June, $49,766 and 6,190 lbs of food were collected in total!
Thank you to WCSH 6, Hannaford Supermarket and those who stopped by to make a donation for making this event a huge success!
Maine Students Take Action to End Hunger
Students from Maine’s seven community colleges recently donated $100,000 in food and funds to food relief organizations across the state, including $23,317 and 1,015 pounds of food to Good Shepherd Food-Bank.
Eastern Maine Community College and Central Maine Community College made the generous donation to the Food-Bank as part of Graduation: Can Due, an effort by the college’s student senates to recognize the support it has received from the people of Maine.
Thank you to the students who helped make this important contribution to assist Maine’s needy!
Grainger Foundation chooses GSFB
The Grainger Foundation, based upon the recommendation of John Testa, local branch manager at Grainger’s Portland facility, recently donated $5,000 to Good Shepherd Food-Bank.
“We are proud to be helping Good Shepherd Food-Bank with this donation,” said Testa. “We look forward to supporting the Food-Bank in ways beyond just this donation today.”
Mr. Testa presented the donation to the Food-Bank’s executive director, Rick Small, at the Food-Bank’s main location in Auburn on May 12.
“The support of local businesses and organizations is vital,” commented Small. “So generous donations like the one from the Grainger Foundation will help the Food-Bank address the growing need of Maine’s hungry.”
The gift will help provide 24,000 meals for those struggling with hunger. The Food-Bank works with a network of more than 600 partner agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens and after school programs, to reach 70,000 Mainers every month.
Renewing Support to GSFB
Hammond Lumber Company recently held its Annual Contractor Show at the Augusta Civic Center on Tuesday, May 5. The last two years, Hammond has chosen Good Shepherd Food-Bank as the recipient of funds raised during the show. This year, donations made by show attendees totaled $1,100 – enough to provide 5,280 meals to Mainers in need.
Thank you to Hammond Lumber Company and show attendees who generously donated to the mission of the Food-Bank!
Weight Watchers of Maine
Weight Watchers of Maine recently presented the Food-Bank’s director of development, Christine Force, with a donation for $6,000. Representing the pounds lost by individual members of Weight Watchers, the presentation was made during their state wide meeting at the Clarion Hotel on April 4.
"Stamp Out Hunger" Results 2009
One in eight Americans is struggling with hunger today. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 36.2 million Americans live in food insecure households, and approximately one in every three of these Americans is a child.
The Food-Bank received more than 9,000 pounds of food from Lewiston-Auburn letter carriers for the Stamp out Hunger food drive, held Saturday, May 9. Created 17 years ago by the National Association of Letter Carriers, this event is the largest single-day food drive and provides much need nonperishable food items for food banks across the country. Residents were asked to donate items by leaving them next to their mailboxes for their letter carrier to collect.
The Auburn Post Office collected 4,387 pounds food, and the Lewiston branch, with the help of a local Dollar Tree store, collected 4,631 pounds of food. Thank you to everyone in the community who participated by donating.
Maine Credit Union League
The Lewiston and Auburn branches of the Maine Credit Union League recently visited Good Shepherd Food-Bank to make a $600 donation.
The donation, part of the Credit Union’s Ending Hunger Campaign, was presented to the Food-Bank’s development director, Christine Force, on April 28. Thank you to the Lewiston and Auburn branches and to the greater Maine Credit Union League.
Many Hands Harvest Initiative
Creating Sustainable Relationships
Partnering with Local Farmers to Provide for Agencies
Last year dozens of volunteers helped the Food-Bank with its gleaning program, getting fresh, nutritious and locally grown produce on the tables of those in need in Maine. An ancient practice of hand-gathering crops remaining in fields after harvest, gleaning reduces waste and provides nutritious produce for those in need.
Because of generous farmers and volunteers, last year the Food-Bank gathered more than 11,000 pounds of corn, green beans, apples, broccoli, and other delicious greens – all for free.
This year the Food-Bank is expanding its gleaning program, the Many Hands Harvest Initiative. We’re partnering with 4H Clubs, community gardens, and additional organizations by providing grants to those willing to grow directly for their local food pantries. We aim to nurture sustainable relationships between local farms and our network of partner agencies serving every county in Maine.
Are you a farmer or community organization interested in partnering with the Food-Bank? Contact us to learn more:
Jason Hall, Director of Agency Relations: jhall@gsfb.org, (207) 782-3554 ext 136
Jeremy Hammond, Agency Relations Program Coordinator: jhammond@gsfb.org, (207) 782-3554 ext 144
Bangor Savings Bank Announces GSFB
as "Community Matters More" Winner
April 29, 2009
Good Shepherd Food-Bank Receives $5,000 Donation Food-Bank Recognized as Top Nonprofit in Maine by Bangor Savings Bank Foundation Auburn, ME – Good Shepherd Food-Bank was recently awarded $5,000 as part of the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s commitment to providing for communities through nonprofit sponsorships, grants and partnership initiatives. The Foundation recently partnered with WLBZ 2, WCSH and WGAN 560 Newsradio to help nonprofits through its Community Matters More program. Maine residents were invited to vote for a variety of nonprofits during the program, and the Food-Bank was in the top eight to receive the most votes. “It’s wonderful to see an outpouring of support from the community,” said Food-Bank executive director Rick Small. “We are thrilled to be included in the top ranking of nonprofit organizations in Maine.” “We know that many folks in Maine are heavily committed to their communities,” said Bangor Savings Bank senior vice president and chief strategic officer Yellow Light Breen. “We are proud to have our company join in their commitment by supporting causes that matter most to the people of Maine.” On Thursday, April 23, representatives from Bangor Savings Bank visited the Food-Bank to present executive director Rick Small with an official check. Maine residents cast more than 86,000 votes for 2,900 nonprofit organizations.
HELP NEEDED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER
Good Shepherd Food-Bank Offers Opportunities for Volunteers
May 25, 2009
Auburn, ME – The largest hunger relief organization in Maine is experiencing a shortage of volunteer support, directly affecting food distribution to those who need it most. Good Shepherd Food-Bank relies on volunteers in its mission to provide for those at risk of hunger by soliciting and distributing surplus food to more than 620 partner agencies throughout Maine.
“Today, one in ten Mainers struggles with hunger,” commented Rick Small, executive director of the Food-Bank. “So we depend on the efforts of volunteers, as they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Food-Bank staff to provide for those in need.” Last year, volunteers contributed more than 60,000 hours to the Food-Bank, assisting with food sorting and delivery, product recovery, gleaning, and special events. Food-Bank volunteers are a diverse group and include individuals and groups from schools, churches, and civic-minded companies and organizations. Willing to give of their time, volunteers are professionals, retirees, stay-at-home parents, students, and even members of the United States military. Food-Bank volunteers play an important role in helping distribute food to hungry children and adults throughout Maine. To learn how you can partner with the Food-Bank as an individual or group, contact Lou Ann Bachelder at (207) 782-3554.
XWAVE Extends a Helping Hand
February 5 , 2009
Good Shepherd Food-Bank has just received a generous donation in order to help the increasing number of Mainers who are struggling in these hard ecconomic times.
"Today Maureen Mazur and I are pleased to co-present the Good Shepherd Food Bank with a check for $5000.00" says XWAVE US Managing Director, BJ Carter. "This donation from Xwave is being presented to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in honor of Frank P. Mazur III. Frank was a long-time friend and partner of xwave and outstanding member of the southern Maine business community. The Good Shepherd Food Bank, which is an amazing organization, has a long standing track record of using each dollar wisely and helping many people which embodies the giving spirit Frank Mazur so often demonstrated."
Photo, left to right: Rick Small, BJ Carter and Maureen Mazur
Hannaford Delivers Results of It's Holiday Drive
Jan. 29, 2009 - Auburn ME - Hannaford Supermarkets representatives visited Good Shepherd Food-Bank today, bringing with them the fruits of their 2008 holiday food drive. The holiday program launched by Hannaford Supermarkets this winter has raised more than $1 million in community support in five states, including $264,400 worth of food and gift cards in Maine.Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger, which ran from Nov. 2 through Jan. 24, featured direct cash donations from Hannaford, as well as in-store promotions that allowed customers to donate food and money to regional food banks and local pantries. One of those promotions let customers purchase $10 boxes filled with essentials for food banks and in turn receive a coupon book worth $50 in savings.
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