AUBURN – The Hannaford Have a Heart for Hunger campaign raised $13,193.18 for Good Shepherd Food-Bank in its fourth year. On June 7 a check was presented to Good Shepherd Executive Director Rick Small by Lewiston and Auburn store managers Tim Bryant and Jeff Castonguay. The funds will provide more than 65,000 meals for Maine residents in need.

Under the terms of the program, which ran through February, customers could make donations at the register by selecting a donation coupon in $2, $5 or any denomination.

Twenty cents allows a food bank to provide an entire meal to someone who otherwise might go hungry. A donation of $2 allows the food bank to provide approximately $25 in food.

Good Shepherd Food-Bank impacts more than 600 communities throughout Maine by distributing food and essential supplies to soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters and hundred of other hunger-relief agencies. One in every four people served by a soup kitchen is a child. In total, more than 25 million Americans receive emergency food assistance each year.

Castonguay said, “We are proud of our long standing commitment to fight hunger through the support of this program and food donations of over 8 million pounds each year. Hannaford is a strong supporter in the fight against hunger. We recognize the dedicated work of Good Shepherd Food-Bank staff and volunteers who make a difference each day.”

Good Shepherd Food-Bank was one of two Maine agencies to receive funds from the program. Hannaford’s 50 Maine locations raised more than $19,000.

Small said, “A mere thank you doesn’t relay how much we appreciate Hannaford Supermarket’s support of Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Our partnership is vital to so many Mainers who might otherwise suffer needless hunger. We are grateful for the thousands of Hannaford shoppers this gift represents.”

Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com and at www.gsfb.org.