The Packer helps assemble bags for two supplemental nutrition programs. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with bags of nutritious USDA commodity foods. Volunteers help prepare CSFP food bags for the state of Maine. The Food Bank distributes over 9,000 CSFP food packages each month to partner agencies across the state.
More than 80,000 Maine children qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. These meals are the fuel they need to get them through the week. What happens to these children when they go home over the weekend? Good Shepherd Food Bank's BackPack Program provides children who are suffering the effects of chronic hunger with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to eat during weekends and school vacations when those crucial school meals are unavailable. Volunteers help pack bags for over 1,000 food insecure children in 39 different schools.
This volunteer role suits someone looking to volunteer as an individual or with friends as a group. Volunteers work in an assembly line process in order to pack with proficiency and efficiency.
