AUBURN — Students from Maine’s seven community colleges recently donated food and $100,000 in funds to food relief organizations across the state, including $23,317 and 1,015 pounds of food to Good Shepherd Food Bank. 
“The support of local businesses and organizations helps us to distribute food to more than 70,000 hardworking Mainers every month,” said Good Shepherd Food Bank Executive Director Rick Small. “This generous donation of food and funds from the students, faculty and administration of the Maine Community College System will help our partner agencies provide close to 150,000 meals to those who struggle with hunger.”
Eastern Maine Community College and Central Maine Community College made the donation to the food bank as part of Graduation: Can Due, an effort by the colleges’ student senates to recognize the support it has received from the people of Maine.
“I could not be more proud of our students for making such an important contribution to their communities during such a challenging time,” said MCCS President John Fitzsimmons. “They have sent a clear message to their communities that we are all in this together.” 
The students chose to donate to the food bank in response to rising unemployment rates and an increase in demand for the food bank’s services.