Good Food for Bath Recognized by the Maine State Legislature for Food Security Service
Good Food for Bath, a coalition of 30+ organizations in Bath and the surrounding communities, was recently recognized by the Maine State legislature for their service to food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This collaborative network, made up of dedicated staff and volunteers from local food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, churches, and more, was initiated in 2017 by the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust. Once a loose coalition, Good Food for Bath transformed into an active and energetic collaboration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and local surges in food insecurity. Since March of last year, the group has been meeting on a weekly basis to share needs, ideas, and solutions. Good Food for Bath’s swift response throughout the pandemic first earned acknowledgement locally, receiving the Bath Community Project Award, and now at the state level with recognition from Maine’s Senate and House of Representatives.
Although the initial surge in food insecurity related to the pandemic has seemingly leveled off, Good Food for Bath partners expect impacts on local need to be long lasting. Now, with the relationships and social infrastructure reinforced throughout the past year, Good Food for Bath is in the position to continue to respond to food insecurity in a coordinated and collective manner. When notified of the recognition from the state legislature, Good Food for Bath partners noted “It takes a village!” and “I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful network of Maine people feeding our neighbors in need.”
Good Food for Bath partners include: Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Merrymeeting Gleaners, Bath Area Food Bank, Bath Area BackPack Program, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, City of Bath, Good Shepard Food Bank, Bath City Council, Age Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec, Regional School Unit #1, Bath United Methodist Church, Main Street Bath, Neighborhood Cafe, Bath Sunrise Rotary, Bath Rotary Club, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, Salvation Army, Merrymeeting Food Council, LOCAL Garden, Bath Housing, Maritime Apartments, Bath Farmers Market, SNAP-Ed, Bath Head Start, Bath Area Family YMCA, Bath Skatepark & Teen Center, Turtle Rock Farm, Phippsburg Community Garden, SNAP Match, Bath WIC, Midcoast Maine Community Action, and Midcoast Community Alliance.