Prfc Visits Good Shepherd Food Bank
PRFC moves between 650,000 and 800,000 pounds of food each year, but where does it come from? This week, PRFC staff took a field trip to the Good Shepherd Food Bank facility in Hampden, ME, to find out! Many people confuse the words “food bank” and “food pantry.” Read on to learn the different roles they play in the charitable food system.
Good Shepherd Food Bank moves millions of pounds of food each year. Based in Auburn, this organization provides food to over 600 partner agencies throughout the state–food pantries, meal sites, shelters, senior centers, healthcare facilities, and schools. The Hampden warehouse distributes food to central, northern, and Downeast Maine. PRFC serves as a distribution hub for Good Shepherd Food Bank, helping the Food Bank to more efficiently distribute food throughout rural Piscataquis County. Each Monday, a Good Shepherd truck carrying pallets of dry goods, refrigerated, and frozen food makes a delivery at PRFC. PRFC then delivers to church, school, and community pantries throughout the Piscataquis region using our smaller, refrigerated box truck during the week.
We were delighted to tour the Hampden facility. Purchased by Good Shepherd in 2015, the site was formerly used as the Bangor Daily News printing press building. The grand opening of the facility took place in 2019 after renovations were complete!
Honor Others Throughout The Year With A Tribute Gift To The Food Bank
Making a difference in the lives of Maines needy is a great way to honor a friend, coworker, or loved one. Tribute gifts can be made to celebrate a birthday, holiday, anniversary, new home or baby, or to remember a loved one.
An acknowledgement of your tribute gift will be sent to the honoree informing them of your generous gift. Amounts are not mentioned unless otherwise specified, and donors receive separate acknowledgment stating the gift amount for income tax purposes.
When making your online donation, simply fill out the Tribute Gifts section of our secure donation form. You may also contact at 782-3554 ext. 1142 to make a tribute gift over the phone.
Does your company provide donation matches? It is a great way to increase your impact with a matching gift from your employer.
Matching gift confirmations can be sent to , manager of Development Operations, at .
Corporate Partners for a Hunger-Free Maine is a group of socially responsible corporations and their corporate foundations who support Good Shepherd Food Banks mission through monetary gifts and/or food donations.
Interested in becoming a Corporate Partner? Please contact at , 782-3554 ext. 1140.
There Are Many Ways To Give Choose The One Thats Right For You:
- Donate online through our secure website
- Donate By Phone: The Food Bank accepts donations over the phone using Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. Please contact at 782-3554 ext. 1142
- Donate by Mail: Send your check or credit card information to Good Shepherd Food Bank, PO Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211-1807
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Maines Largest Food Bank Launches Healthy Recipe Website
BANGOR, Maine – Need some ideas for dinner tonight?
Good Shepherd Food Banks new recipe-sharing website may just have the answer.
The all new NutritionForMe.org has hundreds of recipes to choose from as well as tips and tricks around the kitchen.
The new initiative from Maines largest food bank focuses on creating healthy, inexpensive and easy-to-cook recipes.
Theres also an extensive search option where you can find recipes that use specific ingredients you may have around the house.
All the recipes are approved by the Good Shepherds Nutrition and Education team and include nutritional facts, and some even have demonstration videos.
And, if you have a favorite recipe to share, it just takes one click to suggest your own.
Copyright 2022 WABI. All rights reserved.
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Good Shepherd Food Bank Launches Harvesting Good
Written byMatthew Jaroncyk
AUBURN Good Shepherd Food Bank has announced that it will be launching a new business called Harvesting Good.
Part of the companys efforts through its campaign to end hunger in Maine, Harvesting Good is an initiative that will help many farmers and Mainers whove been affected by hunger and the short growing season.
The company is entirely Maine-based and with the help of Circle B Farms in Caribou, W.R. Allen in Orland and Jasper Wyman& Son in Cherryfield, farmers will be producing food that will be flash-frozen and distributed across the state of Maine, providing residents with more fresh, local produce.
They will also begin by producing broccoli florets that will be on the shelves of many local supermarkets.
Good Shepherd Food Bank president Kristen Miale says that this was an opportunity they couldnt pass up.
The difference is that right now, outside of the local food you can get during the fresh growing season, most of our food is really produced and part of a global food system. We eventually got introduced to Maines blueberry processors and we realized we had an opportunity to create a mid-scale vegetable processing company, said Miale.
Harvesting Good will be launching the florets as its first product later this year.
Become A Monthly Donor
Our neighbors need food year-round. Join our monthly giving program, Thrive365, and help ensure that adults and children in our communities have enough healthy food every month of the year.
A donation of just $10 a month will enable us to provide 20 meals for someone in need.
Simply click the Monthly option when you donate online through our secure website, or contact at 782-3554 ext. 1142 to discuss becoming one of our valued monthly donors.
When you include Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine in your estate plan, your generosity helps provide nutritious food to more than 178,000 Mainers each year. We believe that ensuring access to healthy food is the first step in breaking the cycle of poverty and stabilizing the lives of the people we serve. Thank you for your support.
Consider a long-term commitment to invest in fighting hunger across every county in Maine.
Minimize capital gains taxes while proving food to hungry neighbors. Donations of appreciated securities can be made to the Food Bank throughout the year or at years end.
Please contact at jmcquillan@gsfb.org, 782-3554 ext. 1142 or Ashley Davis at adavis@gsfb.org, 782-3554 ext. 1148, for stock gifting instructions.
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Maines Good Shepherd Food Bank Hires
AUBURN Good Shepherd Food Bank is pleased to announce its recent hire of Meg Brown, nutrition and education coordinator, Jenny Jones, community resource representative, Heidi Krieger, community resources manager, and Joe Rice, Auburn Distribution Center supervisor.
Brown works to provide nutrition resources, support and education for the Food Banks Nutrition and Education program, partners and clients. Brown is currently spearheading the launch of the Nutrition Pantry Program. This program takes a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to support policy, systems, and environmental changes within our local pantries and food-distribution sites.
Ending hunger is more than making sure people have enough to eat its also about looking at root-causes, reducing stigma, and building resilience within our communities, stated Brown. While still in school and researching ACEs , I became interested in addressing food and nutrition insecurity through a trauma-informed lens. My research revolved around answering the question, How do we not only help people survive but thrive? Trying to find answers to this question brought me to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. The comprehensive approach the Food Bank has taken to end hunger in the state of Maine is groundbreaking. To say that I am proud to be part of this organization is an understatement.
For more information, please visit www.feedingmaine.org.
Good Shepherd Food Bank Participates In Usda Child And Adult Care Food Program
BANGOR Good Shepherd Food Bank announces its participation in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Afterschool should be a fun time for all kids to participate in activities with their friends, get some homework help, and refuel with a healthy meal, says Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. But for one in five children in our state, it can be a time where they experience hunger instead. Thanks to the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Program, that doesnt need to be the case. By collaborating with community partners in the area, were working to make sure more kids have nutritious meals at every meal time during the school year and beyond.
Meals are available at no separate charge to all enrolled children without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individuals income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department.
For further information on participating centers, contact Good Shepherd Food Banks Senior Manager of Community Initiatives Laura Vinal at lvinal@gsfb.org.
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Resources From Cooking Matters Maine
- The Nutrition and Education team at Good Shepherd Food Bank is excited to announce the launch of the Food Banks newest website, www.NutritionForME.org. A one-stop online resource to find simple, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes feature many ingredients available through the Food Bank! Search through hundreds of recipes to see what you can make with everyday ingredients.
- Free download of Cooking Matters at Home is now available at the link below. This is an incredible resource full of ideas for how families can use what foods are available to create quick, family-friendly, low-cost meals, like a Step-by-Step Pasta Dinner with plenty of substitutions to play around with.
Good Shepherd Food Bank Shares Insecurity Report
Written bySusan Farley
STATEWIDE An estimated 182,000 Mainers experienced hunger recently, with one food bank distributing a record-setting 31 million meals. But that group said quick action from the government helped, especially in the early days of the pandemic.
The Good Shepherd Food Bank said a recent report found overall food insecurity for Maine households dipped to 11.4 percent between 2018 and 2020, a decrease when compared to the three previous years.
Maines food insecurity rates are still higher than the national average, but the group said money put in the pockets of those with low incomes made a big difference.
The catastrophic increase in food insecurity that we were fearing because of what we saw in the initial days of the pandemic didnt happen because of the swift expansion to some really key programs like SNAP, pandemic EBT program, school meals, said Good Shepherd Food Bank President Kristen Miale.
The organization said the report, however, did show an increase in hunger rates among communities of color during the pandemic.
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Good Shepherd Food Bank Receives Support From Maines Credit Unions
The Maine Credit Union League will join representatives from Good Shepherd Food Bank at their Hampden Distribution Center, located at 11 Penobscot Meadow Drive in Hampden, on Wednesday, at 11:30 AM, to present the organization with a check for $20,000 to support their renovation efforts. Last year, Maines Credit Unions Campaign for Ending Hunger pledged $100,000 to support the facilitys expansion plans. Wednesdays donation will be the third contribution given to Good Shepherd Food Bank within the last year to fulfill that commitment.
Good Shepherd Food Bank purchased the former Bangor Daily News printing plant in 2015 and has only been using a portion of that facility for its food distribution operations since 2016. With the help of partners like Maines credit unions, the Food Bank has a $5 million Food for All capital campaign underway to fund significant renovations that will transform the facility into a food distribution center. Once complete, the distribution center will help the Food Bank more efficiently and equitably serve neighbors in Downeast, central, and northern Maine. To date, the Food for All campaign has raised $3.9 million.
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $8 million, including a record-breaking $740,000 raised during 2017. The Campaign will announce its 2018 fundraising totals at its annual Ending Hunger luncheon taking place in February.
About the Maine Credit Union League
Becoming A Partner Agency
It is important that every Maine citizen have a place to turn to get food in times of crisis and need. If you are connected with an organization involved in extending hunger relief to an underserved community, we encourage you to consider partnering with Good Shepherd Food Bank to better help meet the need in your community.
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Why Equity Diversity And Inclusion Matters To Good Shepherd Food Bank Of Maine
The mission of Good Shepherd Food Bank is to eliminate hunger in Maine by improving access to nutritious and culturally relevant food for people in need, building strong community partnerships, and mobilizing the public in the fight to end hunger. To achieve this mission, we acknowledge that hunger is rooted in the systemic inequities and injustices that cause and perpetuate poverty and food insecurity. People and communities that experience marginalization and oppression based on race, socioeconomic standing, gender, and other identities are disproportionately impacted by hunger. In order to end hunger in our state, we must include those most impacted and elevate their voices in our planning and decision-making listen to understand the diverse experiences and needs of Mainers at risk of hunger, and invest in and work alongside our partners and neighbors to create equitable access to nutritious and culturally appropriate foods.
Based on the above acknowledgement Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine will commit to:
Good Shepherd Food Bank Creates An Inclusive Online Experience
New website toolbar provides accessibility with innovative technology
AUBURN Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine is proud to announce the launch of the Recite Me accessibility toolbar on www.FeedingMaine.org and www.NutritionForMe.org. This new feature provides an inclusive online experience, enabling website visitors to access online content barrier-free.
Providing an inclusive online experience is extremely important to the Food Bank. The Recite Me assistive toolbar ensures viewers can access content and find assistance in a way that works best for them. Available tools include a screen reading function, multiple reading aids, customizable styling options, and an on-demand live translation feature of over 100 languages, including 35 text-to-speech options.
As the Food Bank strives to reimagine and restructure Maines food ecosystem, we recognize that equitable access to resources is one step towards a more inclusive future, ensuring all Mainers have access to an abundance of nutritious and culturally-important foods for themselves and their families, states Megan Taft, director of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine. With the addition of the Recite Me toolbar, our websites are now fully ADA-compliant with translations across hundreds of languages making it easier for our neighbors experiencing hunger to locate community pantries and meal sites, while also connecting with the Food Banks vast array of resources.
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Campaign To End Hunger
Today, over 180,000 Mainers rely on Good Shepherd Food Bank and its network of partners and nearly 30% of these citizens are children.
Our mission is simple: by 2025, all those struggling with hunger will have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive, when and where they need it. We want to raise $250 million to make that a reality.
Working with food donors, philanthropic supporters, and local partners across the state, we will help reduce the impact of hunger in our state and make Maine a stronger, better place to work and live.
Good Shepherd Food Bank Steps In To Keep Things Cool At Hope House
Proving that the best community partners can pivot beautifully when circumstances change, Good Shepherd Food Bank didnt bat an eye when it learned its grant for new refrigeration at Hope House Health and Living Center wouldnt cover the whole cost of a new cooler.
In February, Good Shepherd Food Bank awarded Hope House $29,000 for the purchase and installation of a new walk-in for the emergency shelters kitchen. Penobscot Community Health Care, which operates the shelter, soon found that pandemic price hikes and supply shortages had driven the price way upto more than $41,000.
Between inflation and supply chain delays, the price had gone up by a lot, said Heather Blackwell, PCHCs Grants and Development Director. I went back to see if they would be able to help with the increased costthey let me know they would be sending the entire difference. They are amazing partners.
The new cooler is being installed at the Bangor shelter, which serves 50 meals three times a day. Having a reliable cooler means the Hope House kitchen staff can dish up more fresh and healthy food to its guests.
Want to learn more about meals at Hope House? Check out this video:
About Penobscot Community Health Care
About Good Shepherd Food Bank
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Applying For A Food Mobile
Please note:
Given the need to practice social distancing due to COVID-19, we are unable to support Food Mobile operations at this time.
What is the Food Mobile?
The Food Mobile program uses a refrigerated truck to deliver perishable and non-perishable food to a community in need. We work with partner agencies and other groups to deliver this service to communities based on need and available grant funding. The Food Mobile program is funded through grants that are received by Good Shepherd Food Bank. Often times funding is specific to certain communities or counties of the state. The Food Bank will prioritize unrestricted Food Mobile grant funds to those areas most experiencing food insecurity due to high unemployment, natural or other disaster, or lack of other resources.
- For answers to frequently asked questions about the Food Mobile program, including how many volunteers are needed to host a Food Mobile, please see Food Mobile FAQs.
- If you would like to apply to bring the Food Mobile to your community, please complete and return a Food Mobile Application and Food Mobile Agreement at least 2 months prior to the desired date.
Good Shepherd Food Bank publishes a calendar of Food Mobile distributions. The hosting agency or community group is responsible for all event outreach and communication to the community.
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