Help eliminate hunger in our state
Call or email your local representative and senator to let them know where you stand.
Advocating For Change
Your voice makes a difference
Help us advocate for programs and policies that bring relief to individuals and families struggling to get by.
Contact your Senator to let them know you support full funding for SNAP (food stamps) and other federal nutrition programs.
Contact your Representative and tell them that Maine needs strong SNAP, General Assistance, school nutrition, and summer meals programs.
Chellie Pingree
State Representative
Jared Golden
State Representative
Susan Collins
U.S. Senator
Angus King
U.S. Senator
Advocacy Advisory Council
Your voice, our mission
The Advocacy Advisory Council builds our advocacy agendas to address root causes of hunger by working with our Board of Directors, teams, local families, and community organizations.
Join the council
Join the council to participate in consensus decision-making to develop a Lead and Support agenda that will establish Good Shepherd Food Bank’s advocacy priorities. Sign up for the Good Shepherd Food Bank newsletter to be notified when applications for the Advocacy Advisory Council become available.
The Advocacy Team
Meet our team that advocates on behalf of Mainers at risk of hunger.
Amy Sassi
Vice President of Public Policy
- asassi@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Amy Sassi, vice president of public policy and research, joined the Food Bank in December 2019. Her work includes state and federal advocacy, working with partner agencies to utilize research tools to assess the impact of our work, and engaging our Board, donors, volunteers, community, and those who have lived experience of hunger in grassroots advocacy. Sassi’s work is grounded in building relationships with elected officials and staff on all sides of the political aisle. You can find her in Augusta, DC and on the road throughout Maine.
Sassi was previously employed by AARP Maine as the advocacy director and built the successful Tuesdays at the State House constituent engagement program. She began her career at Preble Street, a social services organization in Portland, Maine, and oversaw the Maine Hunger Initiative, Healthcare Outreach to Veterans, and Homeless Voices for Justice.
Sassi is a volunteer with The Prouty, the Eastern Trail Alliance, and is a board member of Portland Ovations. She cares deeply about the “New Mainer” community and organized the 2019 Welcome Picnic for 300+ asylum seekers. Sassi grew up in Buxton and is a proud graduate of Catherine McAuley High School. She graduated from Saint Anselm College with a BA in Politics, New York University with an MS in International Development.
Amanda Marino
Advocacy & Leadership Program Manager
Amanda Marino, Advocacy and Leadership Program Manager is responsible for supporting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and federal advocacy efforts at Good Shepherd Food Bank. Additionally, Amanda assists in facilitating the Food Bank’s Advocacy Advisory Council (AAC). She works with a broad coalition of amazing people (anti-hunger advocates, legislators and their staff, and colleagues) to advocate for change.
Amanda has been engaged with various facets of food system work throughout her career. She managed an organic veggie and flower farm outside of Seattle. She was also a food growing educator for the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC. This is Amanda’s second time working for Good Shepherd Food Bank. Amanda started as a Cooking Matters Americorps over a decade ago! She is thrilled to be back at the food bank and work for an organization she believes in. Amanda has a deep passion for food and its meaning in our lives. Her advocacy is anchored in the belief that everyone should have access to the food they desire to nourish their body and soul.
Marino received a B.S. in Community and International Development and a Certificate in Sustainable Farming from the University of Vermont. She lives in Portland, Maine, with her partner. In her free time, Amanda enjoys connecting with friends over coffee, being outside, and seeing live music.