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With a goal to increase its capacity from providing 21 million meals to more than 31 million meals by 2025, Good Shepherd Food Bank recently launched an aggressive campaign to help it meet its goal. The Food Bank announced a major renovation effort of its new Hampden Distribution Center that will dramatically increase its capacity to provide meals to hungry Mainers.
(Several local CU CEOs joined the Maine CU League at the announcement of the new partnership. Pictured above are l-r: Todd Mason, President of the Maine CU League, Kristen Miale, President of Good Shepherd Food Bank; Ginny Hughes, President/CEO of Changing Seasons FCU; Basil Closson, President/CEO of Bangor FCU; and Ethan Minton, Major Gift Officer at Good Shepherd Food Bank.)
“Once complete, this facility will have the capacity to annually distribute 13 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 10.8 million meals. This will go a long way in helping achieve our goal to provide food for all,” stated Kristen Miale, President of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, adding, “Maine’s credit unions continue to be leaders in helping to end hunger in Maine, and are valued partners of GSFB and Maine’s hungry.”
To help Good Shepherd Food Bank accomplish that goal, the Maine CUs’ Campaign for Ending Hunger recently announced a major new commitment by pledging a $100,000 contribution over the next five years. At the ceremony announcing the gift, the Campaign provided a check for half of the total commitment. “We had the ability to make half of the contribution now so we did,” stated Todd Mason, President of the Maine Credit Union League. He said the new commitment “represents our shared vision of creating expanded access to food. This initiative aligns with our other partnerships with Good Shepherd including the School Backpack and Pantry program, and the Food Mobile. We are excited to support initiatives that work towards the goal of ending hunger in Maine. We also recognize that the issue is less about there being enough food and more about getting the food to those who need it. This new Distribution Center will go a long way towards meeting that need, and we are thrilled to be a part of that.”
For its new partnership, the Food Packing Area will be named the Maine Credit Unions’ Food Packing Area, which will “be a visible legacy of the leadership and commitment of Maine’s credit unions for food pantries and others to see on a daily basis.”
A ground breaking of the new renovation project is expected to take place sometime in May.