Good Sheperd Food Bank

REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY IN MAINE THROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION: GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK (GSFB) PROVIDES FOR THOSE AT RISK OF HUNGER BY SOLICITING FOOD DONATIONS AND PURCHASING FOOD AT WHOLESALE PRICES, THEN DISTRIBUTING THIS FOOD TO MORE THAN 600 PARTNERS ACROSS MAINE, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, MEAL SITES, SHELTERS, SCHOOLS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE CENTERS, SENIOR CENTERS, HEALTH CARE SITES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. IN ITS 2024 FISCAL YEAR, GSFB DISTRIBUTED OVER 48 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO PARTNERS AND THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THEY SERVE, PROVIDING OVER 40 MILLION MEALS FOR MAINERS IN NEED.

GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK ENGAGES IN MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ITS MISSION. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: COOKING MATTERS MAINE: AN OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT MOBILIZES CULINARY AND NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS TO TEACH COOKING AND NUTRITION CLASSES TO LOW-INCOME ADULTS, TEENS, AND CHILDREN. CLASSES ARE TAUGHT AT LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS, SCHOOLS, AND FOOD PANTRIES, AND THE CLASSES PROVIDE PEOPLE AT RISK OF HUNGER WITH HANDS-ON COOKING AND NUTRITION EXPERIENCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE PROGRAM OFFERED 173 COOKING MATTERS CLASSES AND 72 STORE TOURS TO MORE THAN 2,600 PARTICIPANTS.FARM FRESH REWARDS: THE FOOD BANK PARTNERS WITH 13 MAINE GROCERS TO OFFER SHOPPERS USING SNAP/EBT DISCOUNTS ON FRESH, FROZEN, AND DRIED LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES GROWN IN MAINE THAT CONTAIN NO ADDED SALT, SUGARS, OR FATS, AS WELL AS LOCAL FOOD-PRODUCING SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS. COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HUNGER: THE FOOD BANK FORMS PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF FOOD INSECURITY ON HEALTH OUTCOMES. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THE FOOD BANK PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IMPLEMENTING FOOD INSECURITY SCREENING AND REFERRAL TO FOOD RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY DISTRIBUTE FOOD IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS FOR PATIENTS IN NEED. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE FOOD BANK WORKED WITH 186 PARTNERS TO PROVIDE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION MEALS TO PEOPLE WHO SCREENED POSITIVE FOR FOOD INSECURITY.

MAINERS FEEDING MAINERS: THIS PROGRAM IS THE FOOD BANK'S COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FARMS TO PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTE NUTRITIOUS, MAINE-GROWN FOOD. EACH YEAR, THE FOOD BANK MAKES PURCHASES OF FRESH MAINE VEGETABLES, FRUITS, GRAINS, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ON BEHALF OF PARTNER AGENCIES. THE FOOD BANK ALSO RECEIVES DONATIONS FROM MANY LOCAL FARMERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 3.6 MILLION POUNDS OF LOCAL FOODS AND INVESTED $2.7 MILLION INTO MAINE'S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.

GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK OPERATES THE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EASY, CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS NOT ONLY SERVE AS FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES IN VULNERABLE AREAS, BUT ALSO FUNCTION AS VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE HUBS WHERE FAMILIES FEEL WELCOMED, SUPPORTED, AND SAFE. IN ADDITION, THE FOOD BANK OPERATES AN AFTERSCHOOL MEAL & SNACK PROGRAM CALLED KIDS CAFE AND THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE IN BANGOR AND BREWER. IN COLLABORATION WITH 230 PROGRAM PARTNERS, GSFB PROVIDED ACCESS TO OVER 2.4 MILLION MEALS FOR MORE THAN 18,000 FAMILIES STATEWIDE THROUGH YOUTH & FAMILIES INITIATIVES IN FY24.