DEAR SUN SPOTS: I just want to set the record straight. Many folks and businesses donate to Good Shepherd Food-Bank, which is wonderful. The thing they don’t realize is that local food banks do not get most of this free. They have to pay GSFB 16 cents per pound for it. I am asking you to please list all local food banks so people can donate money to them.

Due to so many hungry people, such as me, many of the food banks are low on funds and they can’t buy enough food, so the last in line get very little. Thanks for all your help. — No Name via e-mail

ANSWER: Sun Spots does not have a complete list of local food banks, of which there are many throughout Maine. But if food banks write to her with their immediate needs, she will publish their letters as space permits.

Meanwhile, she put your concerns about the fees those food banks pay to Rick Small, executive director at Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Here is his response, which Sun Spots cut slightly for length:

“The 16-cent shared maintenance fee is a handling fee paid to GSFB by food pantries in return for services they receive from the food bank.  . . . to support the work of getting food and grocery items to the people who need it, when and where they need it.

“The shared maintenance fee is . . . based on a per pound basis for food and grocery items received. Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army and other national charities also utilize such a fee structure.

“The shared maintenance fee does not apply to all products — various items are given free of charge, such as fresh produce and bakery items. We also support partner agencies with capacity-building services such as free delivery and matching grants.

“The continual maintenance of a professional, quality food distribution organization costs money and shared maintenance fees help to defray a portion of these costs. Many products and services are donated to GSFB, but it is not possible for the food bank, as a nonprofit organization, to procure underwriting for all costs associated with the distribution of 12 million pounds of food per year.

“Shared maintenance fees help provide a stable funding base to ensure continuity and consistency in the charitable food distribution system. In general, our partner agencies understand the need for a shared maintenance fee, and state that they utilize the food bank for many items that they could not otherwise acquire through local donations from their community members.

“We agree with your reader that local hunger-relief organizations need support in order to serve the needy in their communities. Hunger is a communitywide problem and it will only be solved with the help of many dedicated organizations and individuals throughout our state.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: A heartfelt thank you to the person who found my ring at L.L. Bean in Freeport and turned it in to the lost and found. It is nice to know there are still honest people out there. — No Name via e-mail

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’d like to thank the person who returned my coupon folder to customer service at Hannaford’s on Sabattus Street on Jan. 23. I really appreciate their honesty. I had several baby formula coupons in there and am relieved to have them back. — C.A., Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We would like to thank everyone who came out to the spaghetti supper for Aubrey Coburn on Nov. 29 and/or donated. Your contributions and support are invaluable to us. We are using the contributions to pay medical bills and other medical costs.

We would also like to thank our dear friends for putting the supper on for us and the neighbors who helped us keep up the house while we were staying with Aubrey in Portland. We could not do this without all of you. — Tracy, Chris, Jada and Aubrey Coburn, cateyes8477@aol.com

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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