Hannaford donates $400K towards hunger relief

File Photo / William Trevaskis Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine's largest food provider. She's pictured in the food bank's Auburn warehouse. Good Shepherd has received a $100,000 grant from Hannaford Supermarkets to assist its hunger prevention efforts.

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By Staff

Scarborough-based Hannaford Supermarkets is donating more than $400,000 to strengthen the connection between local food producers and organizations that serve people at risk of going hungry. Maine organizations will receive $140,000 of the total.

The grants will:

Provide farmers with refrigerated transport for donated crops.
Fund pilot programs to bring local produce to low-income children and senior citizens.
Help people who are struggling financially to grow food and become farmers.
Assist food banks in the acquisition of products that are grown nearby
Support numerous initiatives focused on producing nutritious, local food for low-income individuals.

“Locally grown food can be an even greater resource for eliminating hunger among our neighbors than it is today,” Julie Libby, vice president of fresh category management, merchandising and pricing for Hannaford Supermarkets, said in a news release. “Farms produce fresh, nutritious food — exactly what hungry people need — and help keep the local economy strong.”

Guiding Stars program

Earlier this year, Hannaford encouraged customers to purchase healthy food — items that received at least one star through its “Guiding Stars” nutrition navigation program. For every item purchased, Hannaford promised to make a financial donation toward hunger relief.

The initiative triggered $407,000 in donations by Hannaford across its five-state market area.

Hannaford announced those donations this week at a farm in rural Hollis, N.H., and a community garden at Kennedy Park, a low-income housing community in downtown Portland.

Last year, Hannaford donated 23 million pounds of meat, seafood, produce and packaged food to local pantries and food banks. The company also supported nutrition education programs for low-income individuals, helped establish in-school food pantries and generated $1.3 million in donations through its fall "Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger" campaign.

Maine groups receiving donations are: Good Shepherd Food Bank, $100,000; Cultivating Community in Portland, $30,000; and Full Plates Full Potential in Portland, $10,000.

Every day, nearly half of Maine children are eligible for free and reduced breakfast or lunch meals. “Hannaford’s donation means more students will have access to local, nutritious produce,” said Justin Alfond, co-founder of Full Plates Full Potential.