GRAY HANNAFORD MAKES $7,000 IN DONATIONS TO SUPPORT HUNGER RELIEF DURING TIME OF INCREASED NEED

Donations benefit the Gray Community Food Pantry and Gray-New Gloucester Backpack Program

Gray, Maine – The Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy in Gray today announced $7,000 in donations to two local non-profit organizations that support food insecure families and individuals in the community.

The donations, which include $5,000 to the Gray Community Food Pantry and $2,000 to the Gray-New Gloucester Backpack Program, will help both organizations during a time of elevated need in the community due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Hannaford Supermarkets is strongly committed to helping alleviate hunger throughout the communities that we serve,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Gray Store Manager John Reed. “We are proud to support both of these organizations, which are critical to the health and wellness of families and individuals throughout the Gray area. We hope these donations assist the Gray Community Food Pantry and the Gray-New Gloucester Backpack Program in their efforts to feed those most in need.”

The Gray Community Food Pantry, which has served food insecure individuals for 12 years, will use the funding to purchase an outdoor storage shed to support its new open-air food distribution model as a result of Covid-19 health and safety protocols. The pantry distributes food to individuals in need twice monthly.

“We work closely with the Gray Hannaford store to receive produce and bakery donations several times a month,” said Gray Community Food Pantry Coordinator Donna Rand. “We are so very appreciative of all the donations we get from Hannaford. We are especially grateful for this donation to help with the purchase of a shed to store our supplies and keep us warm in the winter.”

The Gray-New Gloucester Backpack Program will use the $2,000 donation to provide nutritious meals to students and families in the community when other food resources may not be available, including weekends.

“The Gray New Gloucester Backpack Program is once again thrilled to partner with Hannaford as we provide weekend meals for students and families in our community,” said Gray-New Gloucester Backpack Program Founder/Coordinator Donna Skilling. “Their contributions and continued support of our program fill our hearts with gratitude.”

Hannaford Supermarkets has a longstanding commitment to supporting hunger relief in its communities. In 2020, Hannaford stores donated more than 25 million pounds of food to local hunger relief organizations.

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 183 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.