Letter From the Food Bank
Dear Friend,
Food brings us together — especially during the holidays. And thanks to you, many Mainers will be able to gather for a nourishing meal this season.
I’m so grateful to every Good Shepherd Food Bank supporter for your generosity. Mainers never cease to amaze and inspire me. Your capacity for giving and for helping our neighbors is endless! That’s why I believe we truly can create a future where every Mainer is food secure.
During the school year, children receive free breakfast and lunch, easing the challenge families face in providing extra meals at home. But the rising cost of essentials and changes to critical federal programs like SNAP have strained household budgets that were already tight, bringing more families to their local food pantry.
As you read the stories in this issue of Helping Hands, I hope they show you what we can accomplish when we work together. As we look ahead, I also hope you’ll continue your support. There will be challenges in the coming year as changes to SNAP and Medicaid will likely cause even more families to seek help. But no matter what happens next, we’ll always be here for every Mainer who needs us — and we know you will too!
Remember, every $1 you give can help provide two nourishing, culturally relevant meals for Maine families. Thank you!
With deepest gratitude,
Heather Paquette
President
When her SNAP benefits were cut, Kristine filled the gap at the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry.
Your Kindness Helps Bring Joy to the Holiday Season
Owen’s face lights up as he shares his favorite foods. “Donuts, cheese, bread, and cantaloupe!”
The holidays have always been the time of year when kindness seems to shine the brightest. It’s a time when simple acts of caring can be the gift someone needs most. And it’s a time when you can make a difference in a Mainer’s life even if you don’t know them.
That’s exactly what your support does for Kristine and her two young daughters.
Kristine loves to cook with her two young girls. Together, they create healthy meals and happy routines. But with grocery prices climbing and her SNAP benefits reduced, affording enough of the food they need has become a challenge.
“The cost of groceries for a single meal is way too much,” she says. “With the combination of higher grocery prices and reduced benefits, I couldn’t get the food I needed for my family.”
Living in a rural area, Kristine doesn’t have a lot of employment options, but she’s a hard worker. Thankfully, she can turn to the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry, a partner of Good Shepherd Food Bank, while she looks for work. The pantry fills the gap between what she can afford and what she needs for herself and her girls. She’s so grateful to know that there are people out there who don’t even know her who still want to help.
When her food stamps ran out, Kristine turned to her local pantry. Kristine shares, “We just didn’t have anything, so I came here. It’s a blessing. It’s so nice to know there are people who help.”
Because of the kindness of Mainers like you, the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry can step up for families like Kristine’s. And Kristine can create nourishing meals with her daughters during the holiday season and beyond.
Thank you for sharing the warmth and joy of the holiday season with Maine families facing hunger. Your continued support moves us closer to a Maine where everyone is food secure.
Volunteer Bruce helps others and receives support at the Machias Food Pantry.
A Heart Full of Giving — and Gratitude
For Bruce Bacon, the concept of neighbors helping neighbors is more than just a saying — it’s a way of life. Bruce, a retired neuropsychometrist, spends his Mondays volunteering at the Machias Food Pantry, a partner of Good Shepherd Food Bank, where he not only helps others but also finds support for himself.
“I love it here,” Bruce shares. “I can help people, get in some social time with my friends, and bring food home to help me get through, too. We help each other.”
After retiring from a 30-year career, Bruce found that his retirement income wasn’t enough to cover rising expenses. To make ends meet, he began working part time at a local chiropractor’s office. Yet, he still worried about how to afford food and maintain his home. He discovered the food pantry at a crucial time.
“I didn’t know this kind of help was available,” Bruce says. “I live alone and was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep my house, pay my bills, and buy food.” The pantry enabled him to meet these challenges head-on while fulfilling his lifelong desire to help others.
Bruce’s story reminds us that giving and receiving help are two sides of the same coin. The Machias Food Pantry makes this exchange possible, building a stronger community and getting us one step closer to a Maine where everyone is food secure.
Join us in making stories like Bruce’s possible. Volunteer or donate today to help Mainers thrive. Together, we can make a difference this holiday season and beyond.
We’re proud to partner with more than 200 local pantries to keep Mainers nourished.
Filled With Gratitude
— Neighbor at the Town of Danforth Food Pantry
“At first, I was hesitant to go. I always thought pantries were only for people with no money, and I didn’t feel like I fit that image. I had a job. I was worried people would judge me. But the volunteers make everyone feel welcome and respected.”
— Neighbor at the Town of Danforth Food Pantry
“Thank you SO much for coming to our area. You have made life a little easier for many Jackman residents. … Again, thank you!”
— Neighbor from Jackman, ME
“The cost of groceries has gotten really high, and it’s tough to make ends meet. The pantry lets me do better with other things like housing and heat.”
— Neighbor at the Town of Danforth Food Pantry
Thanks to supporters like you, families like Kristy’s can experience the joy and togetherness of the holiday season!
Sharing Hope This Holiday Season
For Kristy’s family, being together means everything. Living in the suburbs with her husband and two children, Kristy cherishes the moments they spend as a family — especially during the holidays.Their holiday traditions center on making meals together and creating special memories with family. “Sharing food is just something that we love to do. It’s just family fun,” Kristy says.
But despite their hard work, Kristy and her husband sometimes can’t make ends meet. Like over 40% of the families facing food insecurity, they both have full-time jobs, but sometimes it’s just not enough.
“We barely make enough to pay our normal bills and sometimes don’t have enough for the food our family needs,” Kristy shares.
That’s where her local food pantry, a member of the Feeding America network, comes in. During the holidays, the food her family receives is more than just food; it’s a source of hope and relief.
“It’s like opening a birthday box full of surprises, and it’s a weight lifted off your shoulders,” Kristy says.
Thanks to support from donors like you, families like Kristy’s experience the joy and togetherness the holidays bring. Your generosity provides not only meals but also stability during a challenging time.
“I don’t ever take time with family for granted,” Kristy says. And neither do we. With your support, we’re able to help families have the comfort of a warm meal during the holidays and all year round.
Thank you for making the holiday season a little brighter for Mainers! Families across the state are grateful for your love and kindness.
Kristy’s story is representative of the people we serve in Maine.