Farm Fresh Rewards

Courtney Kennedy

Director of Nutrition

• ckennedy@gsfb.org

Courtney Kennedy, M.Ed, is the Director of Nutrition for Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine and oversees Cooking Matters programming, the Nutrition Pantry Program, and Farm Fresh Reward, a nutrition incentive program in Maine. 

During Courtney’s ten-year tenure, she has helped increase the organization’s nutrition foods by implementing a robust nutrition policy that guides the organization’s work, moving the needle from 54% nutrition foods to upwards to 82%. Courtney participated in Feeding America’s Nutritious Foods Revisioning Task Force, which worked on revamping nutrition guidelines for the charitable food network. In addition to this task force, Courtney works with State of Maine partners to continue building essential practices supporting overall health and wellness for food insecure neighbors.

Before working at the Food Bank, Courtney worked in the public education sector, working on policy, systems, and environmental changes related to nutrition and physical activity. Her most proud accomplishment was working with her school district to be the only middle/high school in the State to have accomplished the Healthier US School Challenge, resulting in an invitation to the White House and meeting First Lady Michelle Obama.

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Allied Health Professions with a concentration in Dietetics from the University of Dayton and a Master’s in Adult Education from the University of Southern Maine and certifications supporting her ongoing development. Courtney enjoys working out, running, and walking her dog Harry Bear, a Newfie, in her free time. She resides in Southern Maine but is passionate about traveling and seeing the world.

Meg Brown

Community Nutrition Manager

As the Community Nutrition Manager at the Food Bank, Meg Brown manages the incentive-based program, Farm Fresh Rewards in numerous local retail outlets, the Nutrition for ME recipe website content, and Community First, a collaborative, multifaceted approach to addressing root causes of food insecurity.

She is a rural Maine native with a leadership and project management background and has a deep passion for human services. Brown is heavily invested in studying and spreading awareness about the intersection of trauma science, nutrition, and food insecurity. Brown continuously uses skills and knowledge gained through her research and experience to inform and progress the work at the Food Bank. She is incredibly motivated and proud to be at the forefront of embracing a holistic approach to ending hunger in Maine.

Brown received a B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern Maine and is working to finish her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.

She has lived happily in Portland for nearly 15 years with her husband, two daughters, and their dog, Willie. In her free time, she enjoys taking her family to visit her family’s farm in Waterford, Maine, and continues to enjoy and explore all the Maine and New England have to offer.

Sarah Lorenz

Community Nutrition Coordinator

• Slorenz@gsfb.org

Sarah Lorenz joined the Food Bank in 2022 as the Community Nutrition Coordinator.

Sarah is passionate about food and nutrition insecurity and its devastating impact on Maine communities. Sarah has teamed up with the nutrition team to implement and support our growing portfolio of nutrition programming while managing nutrition content creation for NutritionforME.org and our social media channels.

Before joining the food bank, Sarah received a B.S. in public health education and a minor in substance abuse prevention. Following graduation, Sarah completed an externship with the District Health Department in Michigan, where she implemented health education programs and supported substance abuse programs.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys life outdoors. She enjoys fishing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.