Hampden Distribution Center

The Hampden Distribution Center is one of two distribution centers in Maine that collects and distributes food for Good Shepherd Food Bank. The center receives food from federal agencies, local retail partners, Maine farmers, and community members. The center was re-opened in July 2019 after a $5M renovation made possible by generous community donors.

Good Shepherd Food Bank distributes food to over 600 partner agencies throughout Maine from our two distribution centers. The volunteer opportunties at the Hampden Distribution Center consists primarily of supporting two programs, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Community Health & Hunger Program (CHHP). Tasks include packing boxes, stacking food rack, breaking boxes, and cleaning, A seasonal task is culling and repacking produce.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods. CSFP food packages do not provide a complete diet, but rather are good sources of the nutrients typically lacking in the diets of older Mainers.

CSFP is administered at the Federal level by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Good Shepherd Food Bank prepares and distributes CSFP food boxes for the state of Maine. The Food Bank distributes between 6,000 – 9,000 CSFP food boxes each month to partner agencies across the state.

CHHP provides healthcare partners with pre-packed emergency food bags for direct and immediate distribution to those who identify as food insecure. These bags, purchased by the healthcare center for $10 each and provided to patients at no cost, can provide 2-3 days of nutritious shelf-stable food to patients struggling to manage a chronic illness.

Through our Mainers Feeding Mainers program, the food bank works with over 90 farmers throughout the state to provide our partner agencies with local, nutritious produce.