FIRST ANNUAL Hancock County Food Drive 2/28/12 through 3/30/12.
GOAL: 12,000 donated food items to be matched with $12,000

When looking at hunger in Maine year to year, research shows our food banks and food pantries have the least amount of food to work with during late winter and early spring. The latest numbers in Maine show that almost 15% or 1 in 6 households suffer food insecurity, meaning families do not have reliable and certain access to food. According to the Maine Community Action Association’s latest Poverty in Maine Update (December 2011), the statewide child poverty rate is 18.2 percent. In fact, more than one in five children is living in poverty in 11 Maine counties, including Hancock County.

The First Annual Hancock County-Wide Food Drive is a collaborative effort of the UMaine Cooperative Extension of Hancock County, Washington Hancock Community Agency, Healthy Acadia, Maine Community Foundation, United Way of Eastern Maine and businesses, schools, community groups, churches and food pantries throughout the county.Please contact UMaine Cooperative Extension Hancock County, (207)-667-8212 to find out more about these local participating organizations.

“We’re honored to be able to aid in part of the solution for hunger challenges in Hancock County,” said John Kuropchak, United Way of Eastern Maine president. “It’s a great partnership with lots of local organizations designed to get the pantries what they need most”

But what do the pantries need?

Suggested donations are healthy and nutritious foods like canned vegetables, whole grain rice and pastas, healthy soups, tuna and canned meats, peanut butter and jelly and low sugar cereals. Complete list of drop off locations available here.

Cash donations are welcome too. You can donate online https://payments.sephone.com/pay/united-wayor mail a check to United Way of Eastern Maine, 24 Springer Drive Suite 201 Bangor 04401 (please put Hancock County Food Drive in memo line).

All food and money donated will stay in Hancock County and be distributed equally among the food pantries. Thanks to support from the Maine Community foundation, United Way of Eastern Maine and private donors, each donated food item will be matched by $1.00, up to $12,000. Thank you.