GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK RECEIVES $25,000 SPONSORHIP FROM HANNAFORD SUPERMARKETS TO COMBAT CHILD HUNGER IN MAINE
GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK RECEIVES $25,000 SPONSORHIP FROM HANNAFORD SUPERMARKETS TO COMBAT CHILD HUNGER IN MAINE
$25,000 Sponsorship Funds School Pantry and BackPack Programs in At-risk Communities Statewide
AUBURN, Maine—June 2, 2015— Hannaford Supermarkets has donated $25,000 to Good Shepherd Food Bank for the expansion of its Child Hunger Programs in Maine, including School Pantry and the BackPack Program. The funds will help to launch or expand food programs at Fisher Mitchell Elementary in Bath, Limestone Community School, Ella P. Burr Elementary in Lincoln, Guy E. Rowe School in Norway, and in the community of Houlton. These programs will ensure vulnerable students and their families have a readily accessible source of healthy and nutritious food to prepare at home.
Hannaford Supermarkets is a longtime supporter of Good Shepherd Food Bank and its child-hunger initiatives. During the past two years, Hannaford has donated $70,000 to combat child hunger and supported BackPack and School Pantry program startups in Millinocket, Biddeford, Saco, Sanford, Windham, and Lubec.
“We are so thankful for the support of Hannaford in helping Good Shepherd Food Bank expand our Child Hunger Programs into new communities,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. ”At a time when 1 in 4 Maine children are not able to access the nutritious food they need to thrive, programs like these are needed more than ever to close the meal gap when school is not in session. This gift will ensure that the students in these communities have access to the nutrition they need to succeed inside and outside of the classroom.”
“Hannaford is committed to fighting hunger in Maine, where too many of our neighbors are at risk of going without the nutritious food they need,” said Sherri Stevens, community relations manager for the Scarborough-based company. “Families with children are in particular need. No child should ever be distracted from their learning by concern about where their next meal is coming from.”
Nationwide, child hunger is a critical problem. According to the US Department of Agriculture, about 16 million children are at risk of going hungry. Here in Maine, nearly one in four children under the age of 18 do not have access to enough nutritious food to learn, grow and thrive.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 186 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.
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 2014, the Food Bank distributed more than 17.5 million meals 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.
Contact: Shannon Coffin
(207) 782-3554 x1163
scoffin@gsfb.org