USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon to Speak at Food Bank Conference
Portland, ME — Leaders from around the Eastern United States will gather in Portland on Monday evening for the start of the Eastern Regional Conference of Feeding America member food banks. Good Shepherd Food Bank is hosting the annual conference, which will focus on the latest advancements in the hunger relief field.
Highlights from the conference will include a keynote address by Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, US Department of Agriculture, and a town hall style discussion led by Feeding America CEO Vicki Escarra.
Other conference sessions will address challenges and opportunities faced by the Feeding America network of food banks, including food safety, inventory tracking, and fresh produce acquisition.
One in six Americans are faced with hunger each day, including 16 million children. The 200 Feeding America food banks across the nation are charged with helping end hunger in America by securing food and distributing it to thousands of local food pantries, soup kitchens, and other hunger relief organizations.
The Eastern Regional Conference will take place at the Portland Marriot at Sable Oaks, 200 Sable Oaks Drive in South Portland from Monday September 19 through Wednesday September 21. The keynote address by Under Secretary Concannon is scheduled for 8:45 am on Tuesday September 20.
For statistics on poverty and hunger, media inquiries, photos, or interview requests, please contact Clara McConnell at (207) 782-3554 or cmcconnell@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 soliciting and distributing surplus food to more than 600 partner agencies. Since 1981, the Food-Bank has partnered with individuals, businesses and farmers to alleviate hunger and build community relationships. In 2010 the Food-Bank distributed 12 million pounds of food to families and individuals throughout Maine. Web site: www.gsfb.org. Phone: (207) 782-3554. Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine ###