Food Bank Relocating Southern Maine Distribution Center from Portland to Biddeford
Food Bank will collaborate with Wayside Food Programs to Continue Service to Portland-area Agencies
Auburn, ME – Good Shepherd Food Bank will soon relocate its Portland distribution center to Biddeford in an effort to improve service to hunger relief agencies in southern Maine. The Food Bank will close the Portland warehouse after its normal hours on June 27 and begin distribution in Biddeford on July 2.
Good Shepherd Food Bank is Maine’s only statewide food bank. The organization distributes both donated and purchased food to 600 local partner agencies across the state. The Food Bank’s partner agencies include food pantries, meal sites, senior centers, and youth programs.
Good Shepherd Food Bank’s new Biddeford distribution center is located at 10 Arctic Circle, close to both Route 1 and Exit 32 on the Maine Turnpike. The Food Bank has two additional distribution centers – its headquarters is located in Auburn and it serves northern and eastern Maine through a warehouse in Brewer.
York County has the second highest number of households facing hunger in Maine after Cumberland County. Nearly 26,000 individuals in York County are not receiving enough nutritious food to live a healthy life, including 8,400 children. In the past, York County hunger relief agencies had to drive up to 50 miles to reach the nearest Good Shepherd Food Bank distribution center in Portland.
“When we took a careful look at our operations across the state and the need that exists in communities across Maine, we knew what we had to do,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “Our goal is to provide the most nutritious food we can in an equitable way across all 16 counties. And equity is based on several factors – we need to be equitable in the food we distribute based on the need, and we need to be equitable in the service we offer.”
With the new distribution center in Biddeford, York County agencies will have closer access to food for their clients who are facing hunger. Portland-area hunger relief organizations will have the choice of visiting the Biddeford or Auburn distribution centers, or placing an online order and having it delivered to Wayside Food Programs in Portland. The Food Bank’s strategic partnership with Wayside Food Programs in Portland will allow for continued distribution to Portland-area agencies in a convenient location.
Good Shepherd Food Bank will continue to have office space in Portland, which will house Cooking Matters Maine and other food Bank staff who work in southern Maine. The organization is currently working on finalizing plans for this office space.
After this move, Good Shepherd Food Bank’s statewide locations will be as follows:
Auburn – Main Offices & Distribution Center
3121 Hotel Road
Auburn, ME 04211
Biddeford – Distribution Center
10 Arctic Circle
Biddeford, ME 04005
Brewer – Distribution Center
88 Stevens Road
Brewer, ME 04412
Portland Office – location TBD
For statistics on hunger and poverty, photos, or interview requests, please contact Clara McConnell Whitney at (207) 782-3554 x1166 or cwhitney@gsfb.org.
About Good Shepherd Food Bank
The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank provides for those at risk of hunger by acquiring surplus and purchased food and distributing that food to more than 600 partner agencies across Maine. Since 1981, the Food Bank has partnered with nonprofits, civic groups, businesses, and farmers to alleviate hunger and build community relationships. In 2012 the Food Bank distributed 13 million pounds of food to families in need.
Phone: (207) 782-3554
Website: www.feedingmaine.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine
Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine