top of page

About the Food Drive

The Hancock County Food Drive is an annual month-long food collection and fundraising project that directly supports food pantries, free meal programs, and school backpack programs across Hancock County. With the help of volunteers, these organizations work together every spring to raise funds and collect food, providing critical assistance to Mainers during a time when food insecurity rates are at their highest. 

WHAT ARE SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAMS?

School backpack programs offer families free groceries for weekends and school breaks. Food backpacks include healthy, easy-to-prepare food for kid-friendly meals. 

FREE MEAL PROGRAMS offer free meals to the public. Meals range from warm soup and bread to vegetarian tacos. Many of the programs in Hancock County include fresh, local ingredients in their cooking. Meal programs might be located in church basements or community centers.

The Food Drive is organized by the Hancock County Food Security Network, in collaboration with Healthy Acadia, Heart of Maine United Way, Maine Community Foundation, Star 97.7, UMaine Cooperative Extension, and Maine Coast Mall.

​

DID YOU KNOW?

We are one of the only regions in Maine with a dedicated Food Security Network. Members meet quarterly to share updates and resources, provide peer-to-peer support, and build collaborations. If you would like to join these meetings, please email Rachel Emus at Rachel@HealthyAcadia.org.

The 2023 food drive supports the following organizations

FOOD PANTRIES VS. FOOD BANKS

A food pantry is a local distribution center where community members can receive food. Supplied with food from a food bank (or a food drive!), pantries feed hundreds of people per week.

​

A food bank is a larger organization that stores millions of pounds of food that will soon be delivered to local food programs, like a food pantry.

Team
bottom of page