Our efforts and growth
See how our partners have made a lasting impact on eliminating hunger in the state of Maine.
Mainers Feeding Mainers
Our 90+ farm partners, located throughout the state of Maine, allow our Food Bank to make sure all Maine families have access to nutritious, local food.
Our farm partners’ impact
90+
Farm
partners
23%
BIPOC farm partners
3.6m
Pounds of local Maine food distributed
$2.72m
Invested in the Maine AG economy
50,000+
Pounds of culturally relevant crops distributed
How it works
- A majority of the product goes to the Food Bank’s distribution centers as inventory for agency orders, but we also coordinate direct deliveries to pantries, schools, healthcare centers, and even senior living facilities.
- All of our partner agencies have access to Mainers Feeding Mainers produce at no cost.
- Our farm partners bring diverse freshness to the table. Whether they’re growing tomatoes, catching fish, milking cows, or harvesting honey, their fresh products have a direct effect on our communities.
- Learn more about how the Mainers Feeding Mainers program works on our YouTube channel.
Mainers Feeding Mainers is made possible through the generous support of the John T. Gorman Foundation, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Sandy River Foundation, John Merck Fund, Betterment Fund, Sam L. Cohen Foundation, New Balance Foundation, and other supporters.
Produce from Middle Intervale Farm.
Sorting fresh corn at Bell Farm in Auburn, Maine.
Frank Thomas from Thomas Vegetable Farm.
Fresh potatoes sourced from Bell Farm in Auburn, Maine.
Johanna Burdet from Moodytown Gardens.
Fresh potatoes grown and harvested by a farm partner.
Fresh produce from Fairwinds Farm.
Omasombo Katuka, OK Community Farm.
Food Bank volunteers sort fresh carrots after delivery to the distribution center.
Jean Ripley from Ripley Farm.
OUR FARM PARTNERS
Food Sourced Through Mainers Feeding Mainers
Give a better life with better nutrition
Feeding Mainers Cookbook
Discover delicious and easy recipes all made with local Maine ingredients. With so many different options to choose from, there’s always a recipe in season for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.
Harvesting Good
Harvesting Good’s mission is to improve access to nutritious food and strengthen regional food systems by creating a food processing infrastructure to support farmers in the Northeast.
Farm Fresh Rewards
This year-round program allows those with EBT/SNAP benefits to save on fresh local fruits and vegetables. These rewards can be used at any participating retailer and are applied as a discount at checkout.
Become a partner
The Mainers Feeding Mainers Support Team
Meet the team that supports our Mainers Feeding Mainers program.
Nancy Perry
Senior Sourcing Manager
Nancy Perry, Senior Sourcing Manager, initially joined the Food Bank in October 2008 as Food Resource Coordinator.
Nancy was initially responsible for soliciting donated food from various sources. She then advanced to become the Food Sourcing Manager and later took on the role of the Mainers Feeding Mainers Program Manager, where she works closely with over 90 local farms, dairies, fisheries, and food producers to provide nutritious, locally sourced food to our network of over 600 partner agencies, contributing significantly to our efforts to eliminate hunger in Maine.
Before joining the Food Bank, Nancy provided administrative support in the private sector and had experience with another nonprofit organization. She has served on the Good Food Council of Lewiston/Auburn and the Produce Council for Feeding America. In 2014, Nancy received Leader of the Year Recognition for the Northeast from Feeding America.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and five grandchildren. She enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting.
Kay Gray
Sourcing Director
Kay Gray, Sourcing Director, joined the Food Bank in August 2021.
Kay is at the helm of strategic planning for various food streams, encompassing Retail/Fresh Rescue, Maine Agriculture/Producers, USDA programs, and purchasing budgets. Her mission is to ensure that our 600+ partner network has improved access to nutritious and culturally relevant food, contributing to delivering 40 million pounds of food to communities across Maine.
Before joining the Food Bank, Kay spent an impressive 25 years at L.L. Bean, serving as the Senior Inventory Buyer and Production Planner.
Kay cherishes moments spent with her grandchildren in her leisure time, and she also enjoys crafting custom jewelry and tending to her garden.
Stories from the road
Fresh news and stories about our Mainers Feeding Mainers program, including visits with our partners across the state.
