Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I N O. X V J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 2 1 10 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E The Maine Justice Foundation in Hallowell announced that it received a $50,000 gift from former Speaker of the House and U.S. Senate candi- date Sara Gideon for the foundation's Racial Justice Fund. Fontaine Family - The Real Estate Leader in Auburn said its Bid for Wishes Virtual Auction raised $20,000 for Make-A-Wish Maine. River's Edge Variety opened at 352 Main St. in Fort Fairfield. The town of Ashland has acquired a 94-acre parcel of land and plans to develop it for mixed commercial and industrial use. The Aroostook Partnership and the Ashland Area Economic Development Corp. are as- sisting the town with marketing the property to potential tenants, and site tours are already underway. Good Shepherd nets $1.1 million in gifts for hunger relief efforts B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n A u b u r n — Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine's largest hunger relief organization, said it received a $1.1 million in grants to bolster its hunger relief efforts. The Ludcke Foundation, which donated $1 million of that, "is proud to be continuing our support as the state of Maine rebounds from the lingering economic impact of COVID-19," said Ruth Ellen Fitch, chair of the Ludcke Foundation. "We are incredibly grateful for the leadership support of the Ludcke Foundation, which has been a supporter of our work for many years," said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd. She said the leadership grant will help Good Shepherd meet its goal of ensuring every Mainer has access to enough nutritious food, when and where they need it, by 2025. Good Shepherd works with 500 community partners. A second significant gift, of $110,000, was made by the Maine Credit Union League, whose member organizations raised the money in 30 days. The money will be used to support local food pantries and meal sites. In response to demand at the height of the pandemic, which set rates of hunger "into a tailspin," Good Shepherd launched its Campaign to End Hunger in January. The goal is to raise $100 million in cash and pledges and $150 million in donated food by the end of 2025. So far, it has raised $138.5 million in cash and food. At the height of the pan- demic, an estimated 16% of Maine's population expe- rienced hunger and it is pro- jected that number will come down to 13.5%, or 182,000 Mainers, in 2021. In 2020, Good Shepherd distributed more than 31.1 million meals to families, children, and seniors in need throughout Maine. Eleanor and Gipp Ludcke established the Ludcke Foundation in 1991 to fulfill their vision that every individual be given the opportunity to grow up in a safe and nurturing surrounding, have access to adequate health care and an opportunity to pursue an education. In addition to past support for Good Shepherd, the Ludcke Foundation has made grants to Thomas College and the Knox County Health Clinic, according to its website. B R I E F Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd, set a goal of $250 million in cash and food donations. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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