Heather Paquette took over as president of Good Shepherd Food Bank in 2023, after more than two decades with Hannaford Supermarkets, where she was vice president of retail services and managed store support across five states. After taking over Good Shepherd during the lingering effects of the pandemic, she and the nonprofit faced one of their biggest tests in the past year, after the federal government cut SNAP benefits. Good Shepherd stepped in to ensure that Mainers in need continued to have access to healthy food.
Mainebiz: How would you describe your leadership style?
Heather Paquette: My leadership style is a people-first approach. At Good Shepherd Food Bank, that translates into spending as much time as I can with our team and partners, listening, asking questions, and figuring out how to help them be successful. I truly believe you’re only as good as the people around you, and I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who are deeply committed to our mission.
MB: These past few years have been an especially challenging period for hunger relief in Maine. How do you stay energized and hopeful, for yourself, and for your staff?
HP: Last year was a challenge, to say the least. Rising food costs and funding cuts to food and nutrition programs, along with ongoing changes to SNAP and Medicaid, created real hardships for families. The pressure was constant. What kept me energized was seeing how people responded. Our team and pantry leaders adapted quickly. Volunteers showed up. Businesses, state partners, and donors stepped forward. I often think about the quote, “When things are hard, look around at who is helping.” What I’ve seen is that Maine is full of helpers and that gives me hope every day.
MB: What is the situation on the ground today with food insecurity in Maine?
HP: More than 191,000 Mainers experience food insecurity, including 1 in 5 children, the highest rate of childhood hunger in New England since 2019. These numbers represent the child in your classroom, the coworker skipping lunch, or the older adult choosing between food and prescriptions. Hunger relief partners across the state are serving more families than at this time last year, including working people who never imagined needing a food pantry. One partner shared that people sometimes arrive the night before a distribution and sleep in their cars so they can secure a place in the line that forms the next morning. Stories like that remind us that the charitable food network was never meant to stand alone. Pantries are part of a broader safety net. We work closely with community partners and state and federal agencies to make sure families can access the support they need.
MB: What are your goals for the food bank for 2026? For the next three years?
HP: Our strategic plan runs through 2030 and outlines five priorities that guide our work. Last year really tested that plan, and it reinforced that we are focused on the right things. We will continue getting nutritious food to Maine families across the state, including in rural communities where access can be limited. We also want that access to feel consistent and dignified, because how people experience support matters. We will continue leading in food sourcing and distribution, and we are often asked to lend our expertise in the broader food security conversation. Ending hunger means meeting today’s need while building a more resilient Maine for the future.
MB: You’re known for your leadership mantra, ‘Always press forward, always give back.’
HP: “Always press forward” is a commitment to optimism and resilience, especially when the work feels hard. “Always give back” is a reminder that none of us get here alone. Everything I have accomplished has been possible because others invested in me. That belief shapes how I support my team and how I show up for Maine families facing hunger.
