LEWISTON – Billy Soper and Bobby St. Hilaire are best friends. Both are fifth-graders at St. Joseph’s School and recently had a joint celebration of their 11th birthdays.

In lieu of gifts, the boys decided to ask invitees to bring canned goods, nonperishable food or cash donations to benefit Good Shepherd Food-Bank of Auburn. In all, the guests contributed nearly 100 pounds of food and $105.

Because Good Shepherd Food-Bank is able to take every dollar donated and turn it into more than $12.50 in food at retail cost, the donation equates to more than $1,300 in food for the hungry in Maine.