2008 ElderShare program
Creating access to food for Maine families is a key part of Cultivating Community's mission. In 2008 we are focusing our food distribution through our ElderShare program. ElderShares are designed to meet a single person's produce needs from approximately the beginning of July to the middle of October. We can offer 20 of these shares on a first come/first served basis to income eligible individuals in Portland over the age of 65 living in Franklin Towers, the North School Apartments, or in the Kennedy Park/East Bayside neighborhood. These shares are pre-bagged and delivered directly to shareholders' homes. To learn more, contact Alida Payson by e-mail or at (207) 761-GROW.

Hunger is rampant in Maine and our hometown of Portland. When we participated in a 2006 household food security investigation, we discovered that nearly 21 percent of Portland families-more than 1 in 5 households-are food insecure, and nearly 11 percent of families are experiencing hunger. (Keep in mind this research was conducted before the recession and skyrocketing fuel costs we're experiencing this year.)

Add to this the fact that fresh, locally grown produce-the most nutritious part of any diet-is largely inaccessible to people with low incomes. That means that the debilitating effects of hunger are often compounded (paradoxically) by obesity, diabetes, and other products of poor nutrition.

Through our on-going community food work, we have made about 90,000 pounds of locally-grown organic produce accessible to those who need it most. This includes individuals and families receiving services through local pantries and soup kitchens as well as elders and families who connect directly with our harvest from the garden through programs like ElderShare.