Hannaford Supermarkets today donated $19,000 in food to Good Shepherd Food Bank, as part of a hunger-relief campaign that produced more than $1 million in product and cash donations across five Northeast states, including $240,000 in Maine.
Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger took place in December and included a “you-buy-one, we-give-one” component; Hannaford pledged to donate identical products when customers purchased specific shelf-stable items. The food donated Wednesday included 373 cases of pasta, 412 cases of pasta sauce, 448 cases of canned vegetables and 297 cases of cereal.
“Hannaford has once again shown its commitment to ending hunger in Maine,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “The company has partnered with the Food Bank for more than 30 years, and each year they do even more to ensure the Food Bank and our partner pantries and meal sites have the resources we need.”
The annual anti-hunger campaign also invited customers to purchase Helping Hands boxes of the food items that local pantries need most for $10, for donation to the local pantry, or contribute money at the register. Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger generated $1,025,500 in product and cash donations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York in 2104.
“Our customers showed their generosity once again through Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger,” said Eric Blom, company spokesman. “At Hannaford, we believe that all Mainers can and should have access to the nutritious food they need. We are proud to partner with our customers in helping feed many of our neighbors who are struggling financially.”
In addition to this annual campaign, Hannaford donated 9.7 million pounds of food to local pantries andGood Shepherd Food Bank last year. This total includes 2.2 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables; 629,000 pounds of meat and seafood; and 1.66 million pounds of bread, tortillas and other bakery items.
