It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to the K-8 students and staff at the Peninsula School in Prospect Harbor, and to the K-8 students at the Mountain View School in Sullivan. Both groups were successful in helping our friends and neighbors who use the Mission’s Family Food Center in Cherryfield.
Peninsula School’s K-8 students and staff collected 302 boxes of cereal to donate to area food pantries. On the school’s Facebook page you can see an impressive video of the 302 cereal boxes set up like dominoes from one end of the school to the other. And 1st Grade teacher Katie Parker delivered 100 boxes to the Mission’s Food Pantry.
K-8 students at Mountain View School collected 5,792 packages of Ramen Noodles through their food drive, distributing the food to area pantries. Instructional Coach Megan Worcester delivered over 600 Ramen Noodle packages to the Mission. You can see what 5,792 packages look like on the school’s Facebook page.
Mission Food Programs Coordinator Stephanie Moores said, “We are so excited to see the enthusiasm of the staff and students helping area food pantries! We are so grateful for the generous and significant donations from both Peninsula and Mountain View. Their donations will help us feed many people.”
CHERRYFIELD, ME — The Mission Family Food Center is looking for responsible, outgoing volunteers for our Food Pantry this summer. Duties includes stocking shelves, unloading truck deliveries in a fast paced, fun environment. Learn more:
It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to Scout Troop 139 of Cherryfield led by Scott Davis, Amanda Davis, Lorena Caler, and Kaitlin Merchant.
Saturday April 17, Troop 139 held a food drive to help the community members who frequent the Mission food pantry. The Troop set up tables at three locations: 4 Corners Shop ‘n Save in Columbia, Bayside Shop ‘n Save in Milbridge, and Matthews Country Store in Steuben.
Troop 139 food drive participants were Hannah Roeber, Emery Merchant, Isaac Merchant, Acadia Verway, Maddie Gay, Sabrina Davis, Kiya Bunnell, Danny Caler, Bishmita Dahl.
Mission Food Programs Coordinator Stephanie Moores said of the drive, “Our food pantry tables were full. I was very excited to have so much food to put away. Canned veggies, fruit, cereal, pasta, soup, even diapers and baby formula!” Stephanie said Troop 139 “also raised over $645 for the pantry. We are so thankful.”
It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to Jenny Jones for her five years’ local food security work as Bar Harbor Food Pantry’s (BHFP) executive director. Through a series of programs, BHFP provides people in Hancock County with drop by food distribution of perishable goods, non-perishable goods, free healthy meals, fresh produce, and even a retail boutique for second-hand clothing.
During her time at the pantry the programming and capacity of the organization was greatly expanded, reaching new families and creating new partnerships. She is leaving BHFP for a new position at Good Shepherd Food Bank where her position will entail supporting Northern and Eastern Maine food security agencies, including the BHFP.
Thank you for your work at Bar Harbor Food Pantry, Jenny. And the Mission looks forward to working with you at Good Shepherd.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Maine Seacoast Mission Family Food Center is open Mon 11/23 (11am-2 pm); Tues 11/24 (9am-12pm). Closed Wed thru Friday for Thanksgiving.
It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission Love goes to Milbridge, ME based Mano en Mano (Hand in Hand).
Founded in 2005, Mano en Mano works with farm-workers and immigrants to help them thrive in Maine. The organization’s work includes partnerships with Maine Seacoast Mission.
Mission Service Program Director Wendy Harrington said, “We began working with Mano en Mano in the early days of the Mission’s EdGE program when they helped us support the English language learner students in the after-school program.”
This year, starting with a $10K Good Shepherd Food Bank grant to support distributing culturally-specific boxes of food for local families and for migrant workers, Mano en Mano partnered with the Mission, Vazquez Mexican Takeout Restaurant, and Downeast Community Partners. Using the Mission Downeast Campus Food Pantry as a central location the team distributed 165 boxes of food to 347 people.
“It..was so helpful having this partnership [and] great to provide food for families. Now they feel comfortable picking up food there,” said Mano en Mano migrant education director Juana Rodriguez-Vazquez.
Mission Service Program Director Wendy Harrington added, “This year our work with Mano en Mano has become more integrated around food security, financial support for people in the community, and the new housing initiative.”
