Thanks to Your Generosity, 150,000 Meals Went to Those
in Maine Who Might Otherwise Have Gone Hungry!! 

MPBN's "Feed a Family" Campaign Also Raised $220,000 for Public Broadcasting in Maine 

This year’s fall television membership drive was called "Feed A Family" and it was one of the most significant drives MPBN has ever conducted. For each one of the thousands of donations made to MPBN's just-completed Fall TV Membership Drive, the donors of the Maine Community Foundation in turn donated enough money to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank to feed a family of four for about 12 days. So to all of you who became members of MPBN, as well as those members who gave additional gifts, you can feel good knowing you helped the Good Shepherd Food Bank, through its partner agencies, to feed a hungry Maine family.

About Good Shepherd Food-Bank

The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food-Bank provides for those at risk of hunger by soliciting and distributing surplus food to more than 600 partner agencies.

Since 1981, the Food-Bank has partnered with individuals, businesses and farmers to alleviate hunger and build community relationships. During fiscal year 2009, the Food-Bank distributed 12 million pounds of food to families and individuals throughout Maine.

About the Maine Community Foundation

The Maine Community Foundation’s mission is to strengthen Maine by working in partnership with donors and community groups. We accomplish our mission by providing leadership and support to address community issues; connecting donors to organizations and programs they care about; and building and stewarding philanthropic resources.

Individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations turn to the Maine Community Foundation to create charitable funds that help Maine meet the challenges of changing times. Today, the community foundation manages more than 1,300 funds representing assets of more than $220 million.

Maine Community Foundation grants cover the full range of nonprofit undertakings, with a special focus in the areas of higher education, the environment, community economic development and civic engagement.

Since opening its doors in 1983, the foundation has awarded more than $150 million in grants and scholarships.

Maine Hunger Statistics (from Good Shepherd Food-Bank)

• 59,687 Maine children (21.1%) are food insecure meaning they are unsure of when or where they will have their next meal.
  
• 13.7% of Maine households, representing 175,000 people, experience food insecurity.
• Maine has the 9th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation; and has the 8th highest rate of child food insecurity.
• Children living in households which experienced hunger or the risk of hunger are more likely to experience health or school-related problems.
• Adults in four out of five households surveyed indicated that they sacrificed for their children by eating less, skipping meals entirely, or by eating less nutritional food.
• The Food-Bank provides over 10 million meals per year to 107,000 people throughout the state of Maine.
• Every dollar donated to the Good Shepard Food-Bank allows them to purchase $8 worth of food.
• The Good Shepherd Food-Bank serves all 16 counties in Maine.
• They reach from York to Aroostook County serving over 600 non-profit partner agencies.