Building Local Capacity: First Ever State Network Conference

The reason that Good Shepherd Food Bank was able to distribute 13 million pounds of food to families in need in 2011 is simple – our partnerships with local hunger relief organizations across the state.

The hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters that we work with are on the front lines of the fight against hunger in Maine. The volunteers who staff these organizations have deep knowledge of their communities, and it’s this knowledge that ensures that the state’s hunger relief network it reaching so many people who need our help.

This summer, Good Shepherd Food Bank will bring together our hunger-ending partners from across Maine for the first State Network Conference.

On Thursday, June 7, staff and volunteers who are on the front lines of hunger relief will gather at the Augusta Civic Center to engage with each other to share ideas, challenges, and best practices. The conference will feature a keynote address from Patrick Colley of Feeding America about Strategizing for a Hunger Free Maine, educational workshops covering subjects like fundraising, friend raising, and capacity building, and a town hall meeting with Good Shepherd Food Bank leadership.

We are also very excited to present the first annual Beacon of Light Award to a partner agency for excellence in serving their community.

For more information about how Good Shepherd Food Bank is working to help our partners build knowledge and capacity on a local level, visit our Partner Agency Resources page.