Good Shepherd Food Bank Participates in USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program

AUBURN, Maine – 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 doesn’t need to be the case.

“More than 80,000 Maine children depend on the National School Lunch Program during the school year. Despite the availability of funding from the USDA, only a very small percentage of those students receive afterschool suppers as well, due to a variety of obstacles such as lack of awareness and accessible sites” states Miale. “By collaborating with community partners in the area, we’re working to make sure more kids in the Bangor have nutritious meals at every meal time during the school year and beyond.”

Meals are available at no separate charge to children ages birth through 18 years 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 individual’s 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 Bank’s program manager, Jessica Gildea at jgildea@gsfb.org.

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Editor’s Note:
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.

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 more than 400 partner agencies across the state, including food pantries, meal sites, schools, and senior 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 2018, the Food Bank distributed more than 25 million meals to families, children, and seniors in need throughout Maine.

Contact:
Jessica Donahue
Marketing and Communications Manager
Good Shepherd Food Bank
jdonahue@gsfb.org or (207) 782-3554