Food Bank receives new truck from Walmart to help fight hunger in Maine
Auburn, ME (Nov. 1, 2013) – Good Shepherd Food Bank today announced that it has received a new refrigerated truck thanks to a grant from Walmart that will help provide nutritious food to families in need. This truck is one of eight trucks that Walmart has given to food banks nationwide this fall.
In all, the trucks make up an over $1 million truck grant that the retailer has provided to a food banks across the country.
“Walmart is a longstanding partner of Good Shepherd Food Bank,” said Kristen Miale, Food Bank president. “This truck is the company’s latest major donation to help fight hunger in Maine, but their gifts are ongoing. We receive food donations, funds, and volunteer support from Walmart every month. Their partnership is instrumental to our success.”
Although the truck is funded through a Walmart grant, the vehicle will be used to help secure fresh, perishable food from all of the Food Bank’s retail partners across Maine.
“At Walmart, we spend a lot of time talking to our customers, listening to their concerns and the challenges they face. We know it’s a tough time for many American families right now. That’s why we’ve proudly partnered with the Good Shepherd Food Bank and other hunger relief organizations throughout the nation,” said Walmart spokesperson, Bill Wertz.
“We are proud to be the first company to have donated more than 1 billion meals to the Feeding America network of food banks,” said Wertz. “The food we have donated and the delivery trucks we have provided help ensure that people in the region have access to the food they need to live healthier lives. We encourage others to join in the effort to help those in need because we still have a lot to accomplish.”
The funding for the truck is coming at a time of particular need as food insecurity remains high in Maine, according to USDA statistics and Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data. More than 200,000 Mainers are facing hunger, including nearly 1 in 4 Maine children.
Walmart’s dedication to hunger relief efforts extends throughout the nation. Walmart partners with Feeding America’s more than 200 food banks, with virtually every member getting critically needed perishable foods such as meat, dairy and produce directly from a local Walmart store or Sam’s Club through the retail donation program.
In 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation made a historic $2 billion commitment to help end hunger in America. This includes providing more than one billion pounds of food from Walmart facilities and giving $250 million to hunger relief organizations through 2015.
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About Good Shepherd Food Bank
The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank provides for Mainers facing hunger by soliciting food donations and purchasing food at wholesale prices, then distributing the food to more than 600 partner agencies statewide. Since 1981, the Food Bank has partnered with businesses, civic groups, farmers and other nonprofits to alleviate hunger and build community relationships. In 2012, the Food Bank distributed 13 million pounds of food to families and individuals throughout Maine. Website: www.feedingmaine.org; Phone: (207) 782-3554; Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine; Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine.