In 2015, Good Shepherd Food Bank created the Campaign to End Hunger with the intention to give Mainers access to the nutritious food they need to thrive, when and where they need it.
To achieve those aspirations, we set out to raise $250 million in both food and monetary donations to close Maine’s meal gap – the estimated number of meals missing from the plates of Mainers each year.
The statewide campaign led to unique collaborations and unprecedented levels of support that helped build the capacity and scale needed to close Maine’s meal gap for the first time in our history.
While the campaign concluded in June 2023, it left a lasting impact on people across the state. It also helped lay the foundation in ensuring a food-secure future for all Mainers.
We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and trust that helped us reach this critical milestone. Thank you to the staff, partners, and more than 50,000 donors who made a bold goal a reality.
Read on to learn more about our landmark campaign and your collective impact on the lives of people experiencing hunger across Maine.
Meals distributed over the four-year campaign
Pounds of culturally relevant foods provided
Pounds of fresh, Maine-grown produce distributed
Raised in food donations
Monetary funds raised
Granted directly to community partners
Our path to the Campaign to End Hunger in Maine begins after an extensive strategic planning process that would inform our work in the decade to follow. After coming off several years of growth, we wanted to be more proactive in our approach and shift from year-to-year planning to long-term thinking. We went from asking ourselves “what can we do this year based on these resources” to “what does Maine need us to be”?
So, a bold goal was created, where by 2025 all food insecure Mainers would have access to the nutritious, culturally relevant food they need, when and where they need it. In doing so, it would help stabilize the lives of the people we serve, reduce the impact of hunger in our state, and make Maine a stronger, more resilient place to work and live.
In order to meet the bold goal, we set out to raise $250 million in donated food and funds over the course of the campaign which would require inspiring unprecedented levels of generosity.
Along with our staff, partners, and generous donors by our side, we successfully built the capacity and scale to close Maine’s meal gap for the first time in our 40+ year history. This resulted in the distribution of a record 33.6M meals to families, children, and older Mainers experiencing hunger – more meals than ever before.
Having met both the monetary and food goals set, in June of 2023, we marked an early, successful finish to the Campaign to End Hunger in Maine.
This success was made possible through the partnership of many, including the more than 50,000 donors who helped raise more than $162 million in donated food and nearly $105 million in funds.
With your partnership and philanthropic support, we made significant progress on the top priorities and ambitions of the Campaign to End Hunger.
Even as we pause to celebrate the successful conclusion of this landmark campaign, people impacted by hunger in Maine face a unique set of challenges as the strain of increased food costs, inflation, and the expiration of pandemic-era public benefits takes their toll.
As a result, we’re seeing a rise in poverty rates and high levels of food insecurity that surpass the early days of the pandemic. Many food pantries and other partners are reporting increased need, especially among populations that are already disproportionately impacted by hunger.
But the Food Bank stands in a position unlike any in our history, thanks to the trust and partnership of many, including more than 50,000 donors like you who helped make the Campaign to End Hunger a success.
Thank you for your partnership in helping us build a scope and scale that once felt nearly impossible. I know that by working together and using the momentum from the success of the campaign, we can end hunger for good.
We’re grateful for your partnership and the network of people, organizations, and corporations, that helped make this possible. Your collective impact has been an honor to witness and is a powerful demonstration of the transformational change we can achieve together.
We’ve accomplished a lot together in the last four years, imagine what we can do in the years to come.
“ In the 42 years since Hannaford Supermarkets helped found the Food Bank with JoAnn Pike, we’ve never seen a need like there is today. Let’s not let another generation pass us by. Let’s end hunger now. ”Mike Vail President of Hannaford Supermarkets
“ Good Shepherd Food Bank’s coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities. Supporters should feel confident that their hard-earned dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly. ”
“ Giving back is at the foundation of what we do – and making this donation, which is designated to agency partners in our service area – is, quite simply, the right thing to do at this moment. ”
“ The Ludcke Foundation was committed to Good Shepherd Food Bank’s ambitious work prior to the pandemic, and we are proud to be continuing our support as the state of Maine rebounds from the lingering economic impact of COVID-19. ”
“ Under its community-driven strategies approach, Good Shepherd acts as a convener and neutral facilitator, allowing communities to decide how to use Good Shepherd’s funding to close their meal gaps. ”
