Good Shepherd Food Bank is the recipient of a unique donation from Bank of America. The bank will make a $100 donation to fight hunger for every employee in Maine who receives a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and notifies the bank before Jan. 31.
Nationally, Bank of America is committed to donating up to $10 million to food banks and hunger relief organizations for employees who get booster shots this month or who have already gotten the shot if they register that information with the bank.
Good Shepherd Food Bank distributes millions of pounds of food to local partner agencies that serve all 16 counties in Maine. These partners include food pantries, meal sites, shelters, senior centers, health care facilities and school programs. An estimated 13.5% of Maine’s population, around 182,000 Mainers, experienced food insecurity in 2021. Of the nearly 250,000 children in Maine, an estimated 20%, or nearly 50,000 kids, are at risk of hunger. This means one in five do not have regular access to enough healthy food.
Bank of America has encouraged staff to get vaccinated and boosted since summer 2021 and has offered incentives such as paid time-off and $500 credits towards health benefit premiums. This newest incentive is a unique way to support the overall health of the community while also making sure local food banks are adequately resourced.
“Our network of more than 500 hunger-relief partners increased meal distribution by 16% during our last fiscal year,” stated Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine. “The Food Bank estimates that 40 million meals are missing from the plates of Mainers annually, based on data from Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S. With support from partners, like Bank of America, we know we can, and will, grow our nutritious food distribution to meet the urgent need of Mainers today, just like we did over the past year.”
“The pandemic affects almost every aspect of daily life, and it continues to put an increased strain on food security for individuals and families in Maine. This incentive program is a dual investment in our community and teammates, supporting the overall health and wellness of the region,” said Bill Williamson, president, Bank of America Maine. “Our local food banks have been working overtime to fight food insecurity throughout the state, and we’re committed to supporting their efforts, especially during this time of increased need.”
The impact of this donation is sizeable. For every $1 donated to Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, they can provide 3 meals to our neighbors in need. This means that each “booster donation” made to the Food Bank, Bank of America will provide 300 meals to individuals and families throughout Maine.