Good Shepherd Food Bank projects $6.3M in new costs related to pandemic

Courtesy / Good Shepherd Food Bank Good Shepherd Food Bank is estimating a 150% increase in six-month operating costs as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

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By Staff

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization, estimates that $6.3 million in additional resources will be needed over a six-month period to help Mainers struggling with hunger as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

The shortfall amount represents a 150% increase over previous six-month operating costs, according to a news release Wednesday.

The needed resources are a combination of cash and food donations.

Rising unemployment and poverty due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders are affecting people already at risk of hunger and could result in up to 67,000 more Mainers experiencing food insecurity, an increase of 39%, the nonprofit said. The estimate is based on projections using Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data.

“The charitable food network in Maine has never seen challenges like those posed by the COVID-19 situation,” Good Shepherd President Kristen Miale said in the release. “Between the disruption to our supply chain and the understandable decline in volunteers across the state, our partner hunger-relief organizations are operating in the face of unimaginable change.”

Today, the Harold Alfond Foundation awarded Good Shepherd a $1 million grant that will partly cover the $6.3 million projection.

“The grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation comes at a perfect time, and we are so grateful for the foundation’s foresight and generosity,” Miale said in a separate release.

Good Shepherd will pass on a portion of the grant directly to its statewide partners.

“Based on survey results, we know our pantries are experiencing increased expenses for labor, cleaning supplies, and gas for food deliveries,” Miale said.

A recent survey conducted by Good Shepherd indicated that 90% of the food pantries it serves are seeing an increase in people seeking help.

“We just don’t know what the tail end of this crisis looks like,” Miale said. “We are estimating that Maine’s food insecurity rate could grow by as much as 39% in 2020, but how long will that last? And when might our traditional retail donations come back? There are many variables and we’re responding to the changing information daily. We’re innovating every day.”

Good Shepherd annually distributes 25 million meals per year, about 70% of which is donated food from retailers. In these times when consumers are stocking up on supplies and eating at home instead of dining out, the food bank expects retail donations to diminish substantially and is purchasing nutritious shelf-stable food at wholesale prices to make up for the difference. Crops like potatoes and apples are also being purchased from Maine farmers.

In the first month of its COVID-19 response, the food bank purchased more than $2 million worth of food, which is nearly double what the organization spends on shelf-stable purchased food in an entire year.

“We all know that access to healthy food is critical for good health, learning, and growing, and that many Mainers are struggling to put food on the table at this unprecedented time,” Greg Powell, the foundation’s chairman, said in the release. “The innovation and teamwork at Good Shepherd Food Bank and across the charitable food network in Maine is as inspiring as it is in need of support. So, the foundation is honored to help provide that support.”

Last month, Miale was named a 2020 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year.

Feeding America estimated its entire nationwide network of 200 food banks could experience a total of $1.4 billion in increased expenses over six months.

The challenges are amplified as supply chain problems and increased consumer demand reduce food donations to Good Shepherd and its network of more than 500 partners. Hunger-relief agencies are also seeing sharp decreases in their regular volunteer workforce as a result of the crisis.

In a recent survey, Good Shepherd found that 90% of its partners — including food pantries, shelters and schools — are experiencing increased demand, with 65% seeing both an increase in people seeking assistance for the first time and others seeking more frequent assistance. Roughly 75% of the people seeking first-time help are doing so as a result of job loss.

The Root Cellar in Portland reports seeing an increase of 15% in new families, plus a 30% increase in regular member attendance. The Ridge View Community School, which runs a school pantry program in Dexter, has gone from serving 40-50 families a week to 110; the nearby Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Cupboard has gone from serving 85 households to 140.

Marden’s donation

To help meet needs like these, Maine retailer Marden’s announced this week it has donated $30,000 in nonperishable goods to Good Shepherd. The canned goods were delivered last week to the food bank's Auburn warehouse.

Courtesy / Marden’s

Maine retailer Marden’s recently donated and delivered $30,000 in nonperishable goods to Good Shepherd Food Bank.

“At a time when food is hard to find, Marden's donation was put to use immediately," Miale said in a news release. "Our top concern remains access to shelf-stable food and many of our purchased product shipments are being delayed or canceled.”

In support of Maine’s health care workers, Marden’s also contributed personal protective equipment, including 266,000 pairs of gloves, 252 face masks, 360 coveralls and 216 shoe guards, to three Maine health care providers: Northern Light Inland Hospital, Maine Medical Center and MaineGeneral Medical Center.

“It’s the least we can do to support those who are taking care of all of us,” Marden’s treasurer John Marden, said in the release.