Hannaford Donates Refrigerated Trailer filled with Nutritious Food to Good Shepherd Food Bank
Auburn, MAINE – Efforts to end hunger in Maine received a boost today when Hannaford Supermarkets donated more than 20,000 food items to Good Shepherd Food Bank — and one of the refrigerated trailers that brought the product.
The donation is valued at $20,000 and will provide 30,000 meals to Mainers facing hunger. Hannaford customers triggered the food donations from the company through their purchases last holiday season during the buy-one, give-one portion of Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger.
“Hannaford is once again showing an exceptional level of support for hunger relief efforts here in Maine,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “The refrigerated trailer they brought us today will allow us to pick up food donations from retailers and deliver critical food assistance to communities throughout the state. In a state as large as Maine, having a reliable fleet is absolutely crucial for the Food Bank.”
Wednesday’s donation includes 2,850 boxes of spaghetti; 6,765 jars of spaghetti sauce; and more than 14,500 cans of green beans and corn. The food will go toward meeting the needs of an estimated one in six Mainers who are at risk of going hungry.
“There is nothing more important than connecting our neighbors who are struggling financially with the food they need,” said Eric Blom, Hannaford spokesman. “We are excited that today’s donation not only includes food assistance but also a vehicle that will help deliver both fresh and packaged food to pantries in Maine.”
Individual Hannaford stores and the company’s distribution center work daily with food pantries across Maine and Good Shepherd Food Bank to fight hunger statewide. The partnership includes product and cash donations, as well as community-based initiatives such as school food pantries and backpack programs.
In addition to the buy-one, give one program, Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger also encourages customers to donate boxes of food staples – Helping Hands boxes – to local food pantries and to make financial contributions to their food bank through at-the-register donations.
About Good Shepherd Food Bank
As the largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank provides for Mainers facing hunger by distributing nutritious food to 600 partner agencies across the state, including food pantries, meal sites, and youth programs. Together with its network, the Food Bank leads a statewide effort to combat the root causes of hunger by engaging in advocacy, nutrition education, and strategic partnerships. In 2013, the Food Bank distributed more than 15 million pounds of food to families, children, and seniors in need throughout Maine. Website: www.feedingmaine.org; Phone: (207) 782-3554; Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine; Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 183 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All Hannaford stores feature Guiding Stars, America’s first storewide nutrition navigation system, and most stores have full-service pharmacies. Hannaford employs more than 26,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.
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