Youth Full Maine

TO PROVIDE NOURISHING FOOD FOR YORK COUNTY STUDENTS WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR HEALTH AND LEARNING.

YOUTH FULL MAINE IS A DIRECT COMMUNITY PARTNER OF GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK. WE PROVIDE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS THAT GSFB DOES NOT HAVE THE STAFFING AND/OR FUNDING CAPACITY TO SERVE DIRECTLY, AND FULL PROGRAM SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GSFB REDUCED-PRICE OR FREE FOOD DONATIONS. WE HELP GSFB-ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS ACROSS YORK COUNTY ESTABLISH FOOD PANTRIES FOR FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS. SUCH SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FOOD FROM GSFB AT A SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNT OR FOR FREE. IN THESE CASES, WE RAISE FUNDS OURSELVES TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM GSFB, ASSIST THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN RAISING ADDITIONAL FUNDS AS NEEDED, AND RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LOCAL/SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO MANAGE THE FOOD PANTRY ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS, AND WE MANAGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GSFB AND LOCAL SCHOOL PERSONNEL. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE DIRECT LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING PLACING ORDERS WITH GSFB FOR FOOD, PICKING UP THE FOOD FROM GSFB WAREHOUSES, AND DELIVERING IT TO PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. SOME COMMUNITIES IN MAINE HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN FOOD PANTRY PROGRAMS IN THEIR SCHOOLS. TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL IN SOURCING FOOD (FROM LOCAL FARMS AND GARDENERS, GROCERY STORES AND MARKETS, AND RESTAURANTS), AND WE PROVIDE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT (FOOD PICKUP AND DELIVERY). WE ARE A SOURCE OF REPLICATION FOR OTHER COUNTIES AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT MAINE. IN ADDITION TO MANAGING SCHOOL FOOD PANTRIES, YOUTH FULL MAINE CONDUCTS COMMUNITY-WIDE FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ANYONE IN NEED IN SEVERAL NORTHERN YORK COUNTY COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING DRY GOODS, MEATS AND DAIRY PRODUCTS SOURCED FROM GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK, LOCAL FOOD STORES, AND LOCAL FARMS. PEOPLE SELF-SELECT THE ITEMS THEY NEED TO TAKE HOME OR ARE DELIVERING TO OTHER HOUSEHOLDS, OR THEIR CARS ARE LOADED WITH PRE-FILLED BAGS/BOXES OF FOOD. YFM ALSO PROVIDES CULTURALLY IMPORTANT FOODS FOR ASYLUM SEEKING FAMILIES TEMPORARILY HOUSED IN YORK COUNTY WHO ARE SPONSORED BY STATE AND MUNICIPAL ENTITIES.