By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

The Good Shepherd Food Bank narrowly missed out on a $25,000 grand prize Saturday, losing the Garelick Farms Over the Moon Dream BIG Contest to a group that gives fleece head scarves to cancer patients.

But in a surprise move, Garelick Farms gave the food bank 300 cases of dairy products and promised more free food. It even vowed to help Auburn-based Good Shepherd raise the $25,000 it did not win in the contest so it can get the mobile food pantry it wanted.

“In the end, I think we won,” said Michelle Gosselin, development director for Good Shepherd. She said the effort was a success, even without the cash prize.

Laura Davis, spokeswoman for Garelick Farms, said dairy officials were touched by Good Shepherd and its dream of a mobile food pantry that could feed thousands of people in Maine. Officials were rooting for Good Shepherd and judges, which included New England media personalities, a social services workers and Garelick Farms executives, went back and forth for two hours Saturday trying to decide between The CUREchief Foundation and Good Shepherd.

Eventually, judges felt the scarves would help people across New England, while the Good Shepherd truck could only help people in Maine.

Before judges made the CUREchief Foundation the $25,000 winner, the general manager of Garelick Farms’ Bangor plant announced he was giving Good Shepherd 300 cases of dairy products. After the judges’ decision, Garelick Farms officials said they would partner with the food bank to provide even more dairy products in the future and they vowed to help Good Shepherd raise the $25,000 it lost Saturday.

Officials said they’re determined to get the food bank that money, although they yet aren’t sure how. Davis said Garelick Farms will meet with Good Shepherd to discuss fundraising.

Good Shepherd was one of seven finalists in the Over the Moon contest. All seven received $1,000. The grand prize winner was announced at Six Flags New England near Springfield, Mass, where the judging took place.

Garelick Farms, headquartered in Franklin, Mass., is one of the largest dairies in the northeastern United States.