Good Sheperd Food Bank

Mainers feeding mainers: this program is the food bank's collaboration with local farms to purchase and distribute nutritious, maine-grown food. each year, the food bank makes purchases of fresh maine vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy products on behalf of partner agencies. the food bank also receives donations from many local farmers. in fiscal year 2025, the food bank distributed nearly 2.6 million pounds of local foods and invested $1.7 million into maine's agricultural sector.

Good shepherd food bank supports the school pantry program to provide easy, consistent access to nutritious food for students and their families. our school partners not only serve as food distribution sites in vulnerable areas but also function as vital community resource hubs where families feel welcomed, supported, and safe. the food bank also operates kids cafe, an afterschool meal and snack program. in collaboration with more than 230 program partners, gsfb provided almost 2 million meals statewide through school partners in fiscal year 2025.

Good shepherd food bank engages in many other activities that are important to its mission. the most significant of these other program service accomplishments are as follows: cooking matters maine: an outreach program that mobilizes culinary and nutrition professionals to teach cooking and nutrition classes to low-income adults, teens, and children. classes are taught at local community centers, schools, and food pantries, and the classes provide people at risk of hunger with hands-on cooking and nutrition experience. in fiscal year 2025, the program offered 229 educational opportunities including classes and tours, reaching approximately 2,300 participants. farm fresh rewards: the food bank partners with 14 maine grocers to offer shoppers using snap/ebt discounts on fresh, frozen, and dried local fruits and vegetables grown in maine that contain no added salt, sugars, or fats, as well as local food-producing seeds or seedlings.community health & hunger: the food bank forms partnerships with health care organizations to reduce the negative impact of food insecurity on health outcomes. through this program, the food bank provides training and technical assistance for health care providers implementing food insecurity screening and referral protocols and supports projects that distribute food directly in clinical settings for patients in need. in fiscal year 2025, the food bank worked with 150 partners to provide over 1.3 million meals to people who screened positive for food insecurity.in accordance with irs instructions, the total amount of program service expenses, grants, and revenues reported on this form 990, part iii, line 4d, and on this schedule o footnote, are therefore inclusive of all the above-detailed program service accomplishments for the period covered by this form 990 tax return.