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Maine Community Foundation Donors Provide 150,000 Meals to Mainers Facing Hunger

Auburn, ME  – Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN), the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF), and Good Shepherd Food Bank have once again joined forces to fight hunger in Maine. The “Feed a Family” campaign held during MPBN’s recent television membership drive has resulted in a donation of $50,000 from community foundation donors to the Food Bank.

Thanks to this generous donation, fewer Mainers will face harsh choices this winter between paying for heat, medical bills, or food for their families. The $50,000 donation will allow Good Shepherd Food Bank to distribute 150,000 meals to hunger relief agencies across Maine.

During the Feed a Family campaign, every pledge made to MPBN triggered a donation from MaineCF donors to Good Shepherd Food Bank.

“Our donors understand the issues facing many Mainers this winter and they want to help,” said Meredith Jones, president and CEO of the Maine Community Foundation. “They also appreciate MPBN’s efforts to raise awareness of food insecurity,” she said. 

“Not only will the MPBN campaign help us provide food for thousands of Mainers in need of a helping hand,” said Christine Force, VP of Fund Development at the Food Bank, “it put a spotlight on the issue of hunger in our state.

“We’re humbled at the outpouring of generosity and caring shown by our listeners and viewers and we’re honored to be in a position to lend our statewide megaphone in this effort with the Maine Community Foundation, which brought together the power of its donors, and Good Shepherd Food Bank, with the outreach capabilities provided by their trucks and distribution centers,” said Jennifer Foley, MPBN’s VP for Development and Philanthropic Giving. “It’s a great example of multiple nonprofit organizations coming together and doing what each one does best in the service of making Maine a better place to live for all.” 

Good Shepherd Food Bank provides food for more than 100,000 Mainers each month through a network of 600 partner agencies across the state. Partner agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and youth programs. 

MPBN MCF check
Candace Sanborn of the Maine Community Foundation board of directors
hands a check to Ted Brown of Good Shepherd Food Bank’s board of directors.

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. 

ABOUT MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Maine Community Foundation serves thousands of people who share a common mission: improving the quality of life in our state. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create charitable funds that help Maine meet the challenges of changing times. Since opening its doors in 1983, the foundation has awarded nearly $200 million in grants and scholarships.

ABOUT MAINE PUBLIC BROADCAST NETWORK
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network connects the people of Maine to each other and to the world through the open exchange of information, ideas and cultural content. As Maine’s premier, independent media resource, we create exceptional opportunities for the communities we serve to engage with critical issues, compelling stories and quality entertainment.