Letter From the Food Bank
Dear Friend,
As I read through the stories in this newsletter and reflect on my first year as president, one word keeps going through my mind: gratitude.
I’m grateful for people like you who support Good Shepherd Food Bank and help us to keep pressing forward when things get hard. Your support is vital in helping to build a food-secure future for all Mainers.
The stories in this newsletter — stories of people who have been helped by your generosity and of Mainers who can access food this holiday season and beyond — also make me feel grateful. Food is at the heart of many holidays. And thanks in part to your support, more families can access the foods that make this time of year special.
As I sit down with my family this holiday, I will give thanks for you and for the communities that care so deeply about ensuring all Mainers have the resources they need to thrive.
Remember, every $1 you give can help provide two nutritious, culturally relevant meals for families and help build a future where all Mainers are food secure.
Deepest gratitude,
Heather Paquette
President
“It Helps So Much”
From the moment Alexandra walked into the Machias Food Pantry, her young son, Theo, stole everyone’s hearts.
Little Theo had a big, bright smile for everyone in the room, and his eyes lit up watching his mom pick out food for the family.
“He’s a good eater,” Alexandra says.
And Theo isn’t the only good eater at home. Alexandra and her husband have an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, too. That’s why they’re so appreciative, especially with the high prices of food.
Many Mainers are just a paycheck or two away from having a hard time paying the bills and affording food. Alexandra’s family is no exception. She lost her job, and her husband missed some time without pay while fighting an illness.
“We just got behind, so we started coming here,” Alexandra says of the Machias Food Pantry. “It helps so much, especially all the meal fixings. We’re able to feed all five of us with the help we get here.”
Your support helps Mainers get the nourishment they need during difficult times. Thank you!
Charlie’s Full-Circle Journey Through Volunteering
At 70, Charlie Villard finds himself back in a familiar place, but with a new purpose. This former employee of Bangor Daily News now spends his retirement volunteering at Good Shepherd Food Bank — housed in the very same building where he once worked.
“It was just kind of like coming home,” Charlie reflects. That’s because, in 2015, Good Shepherd Food Bank purchased the building through a generous agreement with the former owners and, fueled by donor support like yours, began full renovation to better serve neighbors in eastern and northern Maine.
After 45 years of hard work at Bangor Daily News, Charlie decided it was time to retire. But that didn’t mean he wanted to stop working. “I had been looking for something to do to give back,” he says. And then he found the perfect opportunity.
“I was out riding my motorcycle one Saturday afternoon, and I had heard they had done a lot of improvements to the [Bangor Daily] building. I pulled in to see if I could go in and check it out. No one was here. But at the time, I saw a volunteer sign on the door. I figured it’s a good way to give back.”
Now, Charlie is going on two years strong, dedicating nine hours a week to the Food Bank to help wherever he’s needed most. He keeps coming back for the sense of community and fulfillment volunteering gives him.
“It gives you a little purpose. You feel good when you leave, and you’re helping somebody. Then you go home and come back and do it again. It’s a great cause.”
We’re so thankful for volunteers like Charlie, who help keep our communities strong. If you’d like to volunteer, visit us online at
gsfb.org/get-involved/volunteer to learn more.
“A Home Away From Home”
For Brenda, it’s never too late to get an education. At 65 years old, she wanted to take advantage of the free education she receives from Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) to pursue degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management.
But what makes Brenda happiest is getting to achieve this goal and earn her education alongside her daughter, Jennifer.
Jennifer is pursuing the same fields of study as her mom in culinary arts and restaurant management, as well as childhood development.
Brenda and Jennifer aren’t unfamiliar with hard times. Brenda’s husband is unable to work because he broke his back, and Jennifer and her husband have four children to feed at home. Right now, their budgets are stretched to the limit.
Thankfully, as students, this mother-daughter duo is eligible to receive help from the EMCC Food Pantry. The food helps cut their grocery bill, Jennifer notes, and they especially appreciate the ready-to-eat meals, frozen vegetables, and meats. They also used food from the pantry to cook a Thanksgiving meal.
“We really appreciate the pantry. It’s so great,” Brenda says. “If there’s something you need, they find a way to get it for you.”
Jennifer couldn’t agree more. “It’s important there’s someplace you can always go to get help,” she says. “A home away from home.”
That’s what donor support means to families like Brenda’s. Thank you for making this vital resource accessible.