AUBURN – Employees from CMP’s service centers, substations, transmission and distribution support and the North Augusta Service Center recently collected about 400 pounds of food and $525 in cash for Good Shepherd Food-Bank to distribute to food pantries and soup kitchens around the state.

The drive started when Good Shepherd Food-Bank approached CMP seeking help in communicating the increased need for donations through the summer months.

Food Bank Director of Development Michelle Gosselin said, “Our member food pantries and soup kitchens routinely report longer lines and more kids needing help throughout the summer. Maine has an estimated 69,000 children who receive free or subsidized meals at school. Summer poses challenges for families to come up with the extra food throughout these months.”

CMP Lakes Region Service Center Manager Brenda Benner launched the food drive in the utility’s operations division after visiting the food bank.

“Many of the volunteers at Good Shepherd Food-Bank are people who also receive food from the organization,” she said. “It was very uplifting to hear some of their stories and to see how willing they are to lend a hand.”

The proceeds from the food drive were presented to the food bank in July. The cash collected will enable the food bank to buy about 3,200 pounds of additional food – enough for an estimated 2,500 meals.

Good Shepherd provides food to nearly 600 member agencies throughout the state. For more information, visit www.gsfb.org. For more information on CMP, visit www.cmpco.com.