[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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            30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK

 Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President. In early 1981, JoAnn and Ray Pike 
of Lewiston, ME, became concerned about the growing number of families 
and elderly in their community who were going hungry. Inspired by a 
newspaper story about an organization in Kansas City that received food 
donations from the food industry to distribute to those in need, the 
Pikes and their home prayer group turned concern into action.
  On Palm Sunday of that year, the people of the twin cities of 
Lewiston-Auburn joined in a walkathon and raised $6,000. The Good 
Shepherd Food Bank was born. Thirty years later, it serves all 16 Maine 
counties, providing nourishment and hope to more than 70,000 Maine 
people each month.
  This remarkable story of compassion started small. The first food 
bank was located in an apartment and garage at the Pike home. Within 8 
months, the quantity of donated food outgrew that space and the 
operation moved to a former textile mill in Lewiston. Today, the food 
bank has more than 100,000-square feet of warehouse space in Lewiston, 
Portland, and Brewer, enough to store 12 million pounds of food per 
year.
  At first, a handful of food companies joined this effort. Word of the 
good work being done in Lewiston quickly spread, and food 
manufacturers, distributors, and supermarkets throughout Maine stepped 
forward--more than 200 companies now contribute to the food bank.
  Getting so much food to so many people over such a large area is a 
great challenge. It is a challenge that has been met by volunteers. The 
Good Shepherd Food Bank has established partnerships with more than 600 
organizations throughout Maine--churches, charities, and civic clubs--
that form a vast distribution network. This results in an operation of 
extraordinary efficiency. For every $1 donated to support food bank 
operations, $8.50 worth of food is provided.
  As a founding member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I know we have done 
much here in Washington to ensure food security for all, but that there 
is more to do. I also know that so much of the real work of helping 
those in need is done in our communities by caring and dedicated 
citizens. The Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine is a shining example of 
such caring and dedication, and I congratulate this wonderful 
organization and its many supporters on 30 years of inspiring 
service.

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