Community group Preble Avenue is launching a new $8 million meals protection hub in South Portland in an hard work to end food stuff insecurity in Maine.
The new centre will be located at 75 Darling Ave. in South Portland. When done in 2023, the 30,000 square foot combined-use area will function as an industrial kitchen, food processing center, academic and vocational internet site, business office place and convention center.
Preble Street has acquired initial funding for the $8 million project from a number of businesses, together with the Portland-primarily based John T. Gorman Foundation, Maine’s third-most significant charitable basis, according to the Mainebiz Guide of Lists. The foundation delivered a present of $1 million, fifty percent of which has a matching necessity. Preble Road is looking to increase an additional $500,000 to satisfy that obstacle and protected these funds.
“Throughout the pandemic, Preble Street and other businesses have accomplished an outstanding job of not only conference a drastically increased need to have for food stuff support but also employing new means to access men and women and relieve access,” reported Tony Cipollone, president and CEO of the John T. Gorman Basis. “This new Foodstuff Security Hub is poised to construct on that momentum, building it possible to provide higher-excellent and culturally-suitable foods to even additional persons and foster collaboration among corporations performing together to handle this crucial require.
A vital associate in this energy is Very good Shepherd Food items Financial institution, which resources and distributes meals to much more than 500 neighborhood-primarily based organizations performing statewide to enhance obtain to healthy food stuff for Mainers going through starvation. Good Shepherd will provide “to-go” meal selections.
The Hannaford Charitable Foundation is also a essential supporter of the Food Safety Hub.
Other at present dedicated associates include the Locker Undertaking, which will make the most of the Food Safety Hub to present entry to healthful food stuff at 34 community educational facilities, and Cumberland County Meals Protection Council, which facilitates collaborative action in direction of a sustainable food items process.
When finished, the Preble Street Foodstuff Security Hub will present an industrial kitchen with the room and equipment necessary to successfully produce a massive volume of nutritious foods, a food processing centre to raise access to wholesome fruits and veggies year-round and mitigate waste, as effectively as a meeting center and business office place to host exploration endeavours, discussions, and gatherings about ending hunger in Maine.
Courtesy photo
Mark Swann, government director of Preble Road
Stage Just one of this challenge is underway and Preble Road Food stuff Packages, which has operated at 252 Oxford St. in Portland since 1993, relocated to 75 Darling Ave. in South Portland in mid-November. Preble Street’s Food stuff Pantry is quickly functioning at 14 Portland St. in Portland.
“Our vision for this Meals Security Hub is to scale up Preble Street’s skill to feed much more folks in Maine even though giving a way to carry anti-starvation and social justice corporations collectively beneath a single roof to deal with foodstuff protection and meals justice,” reported Mark Swann, government director, Preble Road.
Preble Avenue, started in 1975 as a neighborhood heart for homeless and reduced-money citizens. hopes to obtain some funding from the American Rescue Program Act funding, but also desires to elevate personal bucks.