Food Access for All: Building an Inclusive Experience

Meeting the urgent needs of communities of color

Recognizing that poverty and food insecurity disproportionately impact communities of color and that racial disparities cause our neighbors of color to experience food insecurity at up to three times the rate of our white neighbors, we created two special funds (in addition to our Community Redistribution Fund). These funds help to redistribute resources directly to organizations and coalitions committed to meeting the immediate needs of immigrants, refugees, Indigenous communities, and communities of color.

Communities of Color Emergency Fund – This fund was born out of the Food Bank’s response efforts to help support organizations led by and primarily serving communities of color, Indigenous, refugee, immigrant, and asylum-seeking populations in times of crisis to help address unanticipated and emergency food needs among their communities. We granted $15,000 in 2022 for urgent food needs within communities of color.

Cultural Celebrations Fund – This fund supports community members in observing holidays and observances celebrated throughout the year, which often include cultural cuisine and meals that play an important role in bringing communities together. We awarded $184,000 in funding to 31 organizations in 2022.

Launch of NutritionforME.org

In an effort to help Mainers experiencing food insecurity make the most of the food they have at home, as well as equip them with tools they can use in the long term, we launched a new website, NutritionforME.org. It is a one-stop online resource to find simple, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes using everyday ingredients. The site allows users to search through hundreds of recipes to see what they can make with items in their pantries, cupboards, and refrigerators. Many of the recipes include ingredients distributed by the charitable food network.