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Engaging volunteers to make an impact
on food insecurity in your community.
Northern Light Health is the most expansive, integrated health care system in Maine. They partner with Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Community Health & Hunger Program to provide resources to those who are food insecure. Northern Light’s Eastern Maine Medical Center serves communities throughout central, eastern, and northern Maine. Their employees began volunteering at the Hampden distribution center in April of 2021, setting a record for the number of food boxes packed in a single shift. Participation is growing at the medical center as current volunteers share their experiences with coworkers, including the impact they’ve made on food insecurity while having fun in the process. Their enthusiasm has affected other organizations as well, sparking some friendly competition in the area. 
Most recently, a team from Haley Ward (previously CES, Inc., a technical consulting firm based in Bangor) matched Northern Light’s packing record (13 pallets in a three-hour shift). However, their team leader noted that they also spent time restocking the shelves, so they might have surpassed that record if time had allowed.
 
“The Elders” and “The Sisters” are missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Groups of missionaries have been volunteering at our distribution centers over the last ten years. At this time, we are happy to welcome Sisters Yoho, Menk and Langi, and Elders Bunker and Craig to our Auburn center. They have expanded on their experience below:

"It is so great to know that what we are doing is making a difference in helping a variety of people right here in Maine to have access to good and healthy food. Because after all, it's hard to take on the world with an empty stomach!"

"There are things to do for all skill levels, and if you can't commit to a ton of service, just sign up for a couple of hours when you can! What we do at the Food Bank makes such a difference in helping with food access, preventing food waste, helping to support families, and so many other things. And, the food is going to people in our community! You'll get to learn a few new things and volunteer in a clean, safe, and positive environment!"

"We get to move around a bit, sort lots of food, and listen to fun music. The people who volunteer with us and work here are always so welcoming and helpful."
National Volunteer Appreciation Week The week of April 18-24th, Good Shepherd Food Bank celebrated the accomplishments and impact of their volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. We can’t thank our volunteers enough for the work they do to end hunger in Maine.  The Food Bank hopes that you were able to catch some of the ways in which we showed our appreciation this year. Our president, Kristen Miale, recorded a thank you message that was emailed to our volunteers, and WGME-TV ran a story featuring our Auburn volunteers on their Food Bank Friday segment. 
Watch Here
A message from President Kristen Miale to kicked off volunteer appreciation week
Changes in Volunteer Tasks During the past few months, changes in the Auburn and Hampden distribution centers have included moving the packing of boxes for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP or Senior program) from Auburn to Hampden. This has had an impact on volunteers at both locations, increasing production in Hampden as we strive to pack more than 9,600 boxes per month for CSFP while shifting volunteer tasks in Auburn to include more food sorting and inspection. This change was made to better utilize both centers and increase efficiency. Pictured above are volunteers Doug Boyce and Gerry Tinkham as they pack the last CSFP box in Auburn, wrapping up ten years of the program being at that location.
Successful Fundraiser The Maine Center News, Feed Maine Telethon was held on Thursday, May 6th.

A crew of 59 volunteers helped raise over $217,000.00, which will help provide food for more than 650,000 meals. Volunteers processed 1,883 donations in 15 hours, which is an average of 125 donations per hour. Thank you to our generous volunteers for their time and talent on the phones!
Summary of volunteer impact from January to April 2021:

Food banks make efforts to reduce inequity and provide “culturally relevant” food

Although Good Shepherd Food Bank has long served diverse communities across Maine, it wasn’t until Covid-19 hit that the organization realized how much variety there was in the food its clients wanted – and how little of that variety it provided.

“I keep saying, ‘I’m so sorry that it took a pandemic for us to realize how much we were falling short,’” said Kristen Miale, the food bank’s president. “We’re eyes wide open now, and hopefully on a path to doing a much better job.”
The Counter
“Hannaford has been the largest food donor to the Food Bank going back to our founding 40 years ago,” Erin Fogg, vice president of development and communications for Good Shepherd Food Bank, said. “Over the decades Hannaford has innovated and found new ways to support our food distribution with both shelf-stable and fresh, nutritious food and produce. Food from Hannaford stores is distributed through the Food Bank’s partner network of over 500 hunger-relief organizations, helping thousands of Mainers who are experiencing hunger.”
News Center Maine 
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