Bangor Savings Bank to Offer Maine Families Facing Hunger Some Relief During Long Winter

$56,000 donated to help fight hunger across Maine

Auburn, ME – With 200,000 Mainers, including one in every four Maine children, facing hunger this winter, Bangor Savings Bank is once again stepping forward to help. Through a partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank, Bangor Savings Bank has given $56,000 to provide food in the 56 communities in which it has branch offices.

Good Shepherd Food-Bank partners with over 600 local organizations and this winter most have seen an increase in the need for hunger relief. Given the challenges Mainers face during the winter and the struggling economy, Bangor Savings Bank decided to help Good Shepherd Food Bank by making this generous gift to help fight hunger.

“This donation will have such an important impact for our partner organizations this winter,” says Diane Dunton, Good Shepherd Food Bank’s board chair. “Our partners are reporting that the number of people seeking their services continues to rise at an alarming rate, and we know that many Mainers struggle to pay for heat and medical expenses. These funds will certainly help ease the burden in the coming months.”

Good Shepherd Food Bank will divide the gift among the accounts of 56 of its partner food pantries and soup kitchens. These partner organizations will then use the funds to order food and grocery items from the Food Bank. This is the second consecutive year that Bangor Savings Bank has made this localized donation to hunger relief organizations across the state.

“At Bangor Savings Bank, we understand that hunger is a significant issue for many Maine citizens,” says James Conlon, President and CEO of Bangor Savings Bank. “Working with Good Shepherd Food Bank means that our $56,000 donation is leveraged into almost $450,000 worth of food for hungry families. The Food Bank’s ability to leverage funds and make the most of these donations is so important. We know that businesses and families are very generous throughout the holiday season, but it has been clear to our employees that the need for food continues long after the holiday season is over.”

About Good Shepherd Food-Bank

The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food-Bank provides for those at risk of hunger by soliciting and distributing surplus food to more than 600 partner agencies. Since 1981, the Food-Bank has partnered with individuals, businesses and farmers to alleviate hunger and build community relationships. In 2011 the Food-Bank distributed 12.5 million pounds of food to families and individuals throughout Maine. Web site: www.gsfb.org. Phone: (207) 782-3554. Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine