Maine
Opinion: We must do more to eliminate hunger in Maine
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Invoice Williamson is the president of Financial institution of America Maine.
In Maine, the possibilities that you already know somebody going through meals insecurity are excessive — even in case you don’t understand it.
Maine is ranked fifth within the nation for a extreme vary of meals insecurity the place meals consumption is lowered, referred to as very low meals safety. The state can also be ranked first in New England for childhood meals insecurity, with 20 p.c of Maine’s youth — roughly 50,000 kids — meals insecure. Analysis finds that kids residing in food-insecure houses face extra studying challenges, expertise behavioral issues, and are extra vulnerable to well being points.
As members of the neighborhood, consciousness of each this difficulty and the important organizations working to deal with it’s vital. Domestically, since 1981 Good Shepherd Meals Financial institution has served as a lifeline to Mainers in all 16 counties who could not know the place their subsequent meal is coming from. As we speak, over 180,000 Mainers depend on Good Shepherd and its community of almost 600 companions, which embrace meals pantries, meal websites, shelters, senior facilities, healthcare services, and college packages throughout the state.
The pandemic has elevated the demand for providers at organizations like Good Shepherd Meals Financial institution. Previous to the pandemic, 12.3 p.c of Maine’s inhabitants was meals insecure, a determine that rose to 14.7 p.c on the pandemic’s peak.
Whereas the magnitude of want and funding necessities could appear daunting, they’re surmountable after we work collectively. Supporting well being and wellness is an integral a part of Financial institution of America’s dedication to the communities we serve. Good Shepherd Meals Financial institution will obtain a $50,000 donation due to our staff who shared that they’ve acquired a COVID-19 booster or vaccine. Nationally, it will culminate in $10.6 million in donations to native meals banks all through the nation.
The impression of the donations is sizeable for our state. Good Shepherd Meals Financial institution estimates that each $1 donated can present three meals to our neighbors in want, that means that our “booster” donations will present roughly 150,000 wholesome meals to Mainers throughout the 16 counties the group serves.
We’re grateful for our staff who participated in our shared dedication to guard and serve our communities. We’re additionally right here to encourage Maine’s enterprise neighborhood to search out methods to assist each worker and neighborhood wellness. Everybody has a job to play in working to eradicate starvation in Maine.
Along with people donating meals, contributing cash and volunteering to assist starvation reduction organizations, companies can, and will, increase consciousness and assist our neighbors at any time when doable. By providing paid time without work for workers to volunteer and making giving again a part of an organization’s tradition, companies can lead by instance and assist our groups in partaking in our communities in an impactful approach. Collectively we will help scale back starvation in our state and assist additional strengthen our neighborhood.