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Request your Thanksgiving turkeys
The holiday season is right around the corner! We have acquired turkeys to distribute to partner agencies, but supplies are limited.
Submit your request for turkeys >
Refrigerator/Freezer grants are available
Apply for a refrigerator/freezer grant >
Lots of fresh produce available
We are seeing an influx of fresh produce in our distribution centers due to the Mainers Feeding Mainers program. Over the next few weeks, visit our warehouses and you will see an abundance of free produce including corn, squash, lettuce, blueberries, tomatoes, and more.
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Field Notes: Visiting Brownfield Food Pantry
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Lou Ann Bachelder, Agency Field Representative
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After a visit to Jack and Marian Mitchell, our Agency Services Field Representative Lou Ann Bachelder can report that Brownfield Food Pantry is coming into some difficult times. As with many other organizations across Maine, Brownfield FP lost its Emergency Food & Shelter Program funds this year; the pantry has depended on this money to run their program in past years.
The commodities they receive through TEFAP have also declined, meaning the pantry has to purchase more food to make up the difference. This additional expense has put an incredible strain on the organization's budget.
Brownfield FP serves 11 towns in Western Maine. They served 2,000 individuals last year - some every month, others one time only. The pantry provides about two weeks worth of food per household each visit. According to Jack, they serve a population where 1 out of 3 cannot read or write and 50 percent suffer with mental illness. In order to help meet the needs of their clients, Brownfield provides an on-site nurse and two nutritionists.
Brownfield FP uses the client choice method of distributing food, which means clients may shop and pick out food items they want and will use. They deliver to those who cannot make it to the pantry and to those they feel pose a risk to other clients at the pantry.
Jack and Marian are dedicated to carrying on the work of the pantry despite these challenging circumstances. They continue to pay for many expenses out of their own pockets - a story that is very common among food pantries in Maine.
To help Brownfield through this difficult time, Good Shepherd Food-Bank is donating our 38-foot refrigerated tractor trailer unit to the pantry. They will be able to use the trailer for dry storage, as well as refrigeration when the need arises.
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Navigating the New Website
As you have heard, Good Shepherd Food-Bank recently launched a new website. This new site will help us communicate with the public and with our partner agencies.
The new site still has the same URL - www.gsfb.org. You can also reach the site by going to www.feedingmaine.org.
Areas of interest to partner agencies:
- Food map - the new site includes an interactive map showing partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and other hunger relief organizations. Visitors to the site are now able to search and find food assistance in their communities.
- Online ordering - the top right corner of the new homepage has a link called AGENCY LOGIN that allows partner agencies to access online ordering directly. The online ordering system itself has not changed.
- Partner Agency Resources - the new site has 4 main headers at the top of the homepage. One of these headers is called Get Help. In this section you will find a page called Partner Agency Resources which is your go-to location for information pertaining to GSFB partner agencies.
If you have feedback regarding the new website, please send it to Jeremy Corbally-Hammond at jhammond@gsfb.org.
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New Process for Food Mobile
In an effort to increase the reach of our Food Mobile program across all corners of the state, we've implemented some new procedures for scheduling Food Mobile distributions. When you would like to request a Food Mobile, please complete the Food Mobile Request Form.
Preference will be given to those who demonstrate a substantial increase in need in their community that local pantries have been unable to meet. Consideration will also be given to areas that have not recently received a Food Mobile.
We hope this new process will help increase our communication with Food Mobile host agencies and make for a smoother distribution for all involved.
If you have any questions about the Food Mobile program, please contact Shannon Coffin, Agency Services Program Manager, at scoffin@gsfb.org or (207) 782-3554 ext. 1163.
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Locations, Hours & Closings
Auburn Distribution Ctr. Portland Distribution Ctr.
3121 Hotel Road 111 Pine Tree Industrial Pkwy
Auburn, ME 04211 Portland, ME 04102
(207) 782-3554 (207) 761-0542
Hours: M-Th 7:30am - 4pm; Hours: M-Th 8am - 3pm;
F 7:30am - 1:30pm F 8am - 12pm
Brewer Distribution Ctr. We will be CLOSED on:
88 Stevens Road September 1 - Inventory
Brewer, ME 04412 September 5 - Labor Day
(207) 989-4672 October 3 - Inventory
Hours: M closed; October 10 - Columbus Day
T-Th 7:30am - 3pm;
F 7:30am - 2pm
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September is Hunger Action Month!
Find out more about how your organization can get involved in Hunger Action Month at:
www.MaineHungerAction.org
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New Staff Positions
Paul Tarr, who has been working in the Food-Bank's Auburn warehouse for 20 years, has taken a new position in the Brewer facility. Paul will be overseeing operations in Brewer alongside Dan Holmes. The additional support in the Brewer facility is already improving food distribution to our partners in the Northeast region. Please also welcome Shannon Coffin to her new role as Agency Services Program Manager. Shannon will be overseeing programs such as the Food Mobile and the BackPack Program. To contact Shannon, send an email to scoffin@gsfb.org.
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Are You Using Our Online Ordering System?
There are many benefits to using online ordering:
- You can place an order online at your convenience, 24/7.
- Real-time product availability gives you the best selection.
- Once you order, the items are reserved for you.
Placing your agency's order online is easy! To view a list of current inventory and place an online order, please click here.
For login and password, please contact Heidi at (207) 782-3554 ext. 1126 or hlupardo@gsfb.org
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Partner Agency Tip
Two organizations offer memberships to Grantstation, which normally costs $599.
Both Techsoup and MANP are excellent resources for nonprofit organizations.
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Recipe of the Month
Zucchini Chocolate Cake
Ingredients: 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup oil 1 - 3/4 cups sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 - 1/2 cups flour 1/4 cup cocoa 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 2 cups grated zucchini Cream together margarine, oil, and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time. Add buttermilk. Mix dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients until well integrated. Stir in zucchini. Bake in a 13 x 9 inch pan coated in oil & flour at 325 degrees for 55 minutes.
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Agency Services Team
Jeremy Corbally-Hammond, Manager of Agency Services,
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