Our Volunteers in Action
See how volunteers work to eliminate hunger in the state of Maine.
Volunteer
We rely on thousands of volunteers to end hunger in Maine. Volunteering with Good Shepherd Food Bank is a great way to contribute your time and talent to strengthen the community for a better, fuller future.
Our volunteer’s 2022 impact
17,684
Volunteer hours served
1.5m
Pounds of food sorted and inspected
29m
Meals provided to Mainers
3,705
CHHP boxes made and distributed
570k
Pounds of local food distributed
68,665
CSFP boxes made and distributed
Lend a helping hand
New Volunteers
All individuals are required to complete a volunteer application in our volunteer management system. We will review your skills to find the most effective use of your time.
Returning Volunteers
Please log in to Galaxy Digital to schedule your next volunteer effort and review the Volunteer Handbook for any changes. We look forward to your continued support.
Groups
We welcome a variety of groups, including businesses, school groups, and community organizations. Contact the Volunteer Engagement Team to get started.
Mandated Service: Court-mandated and other community service
Individuals who receive a court order to perform community service are welcome to volunteer, provided the charge was not a violent crime, sex offense, or involved a minor.
Our valued volunteers are appreciated and recognized for their efforts
We proudly honor our volunteers for their service through Apple Corps, our volunteer recognition and ambassador program.
Volunteers are awarded based on the number of hours donated:
- Cortland for over 100 hours in one year
- McIntosh for over 200 hours in one year
- JoAnn Pike Volunteer Service Award for 500+ total service hours
Volunteer Resources
Reference handbooks, view and download additional resources, watch informative videos, and get tips to help you make the most of your volunteering experience.
Give back for a fuller future
Volunteer with Us
From lending a hand in the food bank to teaching a nutrition-focused cooking class at your local community center, or advocating for change. Give back your way.
Volunteer with a Partner Agency
With over 600 partners in Maine, there are many opportunities to make a local impact. Find food pantries, meal sites, shelters, and more with our Food Map.
Make a Donation
Make a difference by supporting the Food Bank with the critical funds it needs to make an impact. Join Thrive 365, host a Virtual Food Drive, fundraise, and more!
The Volunteer Team
Meet our volunteer team.
Jane Clifford
Volunteer Engagement Manager
Jane Clifford, Volunteer Engagement Manager, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in March 2020.
Prior to her role at the Food Bank, Jane managed marketing communications for businesses and worked in fundraising for non-profits in the Midwest. She had a brief but impactful opportunity to assist City Year in Manchester, New Hampshire—an organization dedicated to providing educational support to at-risk students through mobilizing AmeriCorps volunteers. Before that, she managed communications and development for a free medical clinic in Minnesota. Throughout much of Jane’s career and volunteer experiences, she consistently found herself engaged in work that directly addressed the critical issue of food insecurity.
Jane believes everyone should have equitable access to nutritious food and primary healthcare. Nine years ago, Jane and her husband decided to settle in Maine, drawn by its unique charm and a desire for new experiences, after raising their two children in the Midwest.
Jane is a certified yoga instructor, and in her free time, she enjoys running, tennis, and supporting local organic farmers.
Gina Bingham
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Gina Bingham, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at the Hampden Distribution Center and for Cooking Matters, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in 2023. Gina works with the Volunteer Team to recruit and foster relationships with volunteers from the community and provide a fulfilling and enriching experience for those interested in supporting the Food Bank’s mission to end hunger in Maine. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Gina worked in small business support, technology education, and community outreach in public libraries in Florida, Virginia, and Connecticut. She has a background in information science, English language teaching, and communications. In her free time, Gina likes to hike, bake, garden, tinker with crafty projects, learn other languages (German, Spanish, ASL), and read great books. Originally from Colorado and new to Maine, Gina looks forward to connecting with the community, meeting new and returning volunteers, and getting great advice for living the best Vacationland life.
Laura Gordon
People & Culture Team
Laura Gordon is the Service-Learning Specialist at Good Shepherd Food Bank. She spent two years serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Volunteer Engagement Team where she helped to recruit and manage volunteers and developed a volunteer toolkit for our partner agencies.
In her second year of service, Laura developed a service-learning program for the Food Bank. Service-learning is an educational approach to apply concepts from the classroom to a real-world problem. Students take what they learn from the materials and come up with a solution to increase food security within their own communities. With the help of consultant and expert on service-learning, Tracy Harkins, Laura developed a series of lesson plans to help students learn why food insecurity exists and how they can get involved in our work to end hunger. The Food Bank then piloted the materials with several schools, including Katahdin Elementary and Nokomis Regional Middle School, whose projects you can read about on our website.
In the beginning of June this year, she transitioned to a part-time employee to help expand the program. Laura enjoys spending time with her dog and hiking in her free time.