BANGOR, Maine — Oakhurst Dairy is extending its partnership with the nonprofit Full Plates Full Potential by donating $100,000 in grant funding to the organization, which helps Full Plates start and support after school meal programs all across the state.
The partnership began in 2020 when Oakhurst made an initial $300,000 donation to Full Plates. With the grants, Full Plates helps after school meal programs get off the ground, offering financial support with startup costs.
According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, in 2022 Maine had the second highest rate of food insecurity in New England, meaning large numbers of families lack access to nutritious food that promotes a healthy diet.
Several obstacles like poverty, gaps in employment, and lack of overall support stand in the way of families achieving food security.
Oakhurst General Manager Mark Page said food insecurity is often hard to point out because many times parents may feel ashamed.
"It has to be a difficult time for many, many families who have multiple jobs and still just can't make enough money to meet rent and utilities and all the other demands of day-to-day life," Page said.
Full Plates Full Potential's Executive Director Justin Strasburger said 43 percent of all Maine students rely on school meals every day, explaining that some children may not get another nutritious meal once they leave school for the day.
Full Plates Full Potential's partnership with Oakhurst helps provide food programs across the state with the financial support that they need to supply students who attend after school programs with meals, making sure that no child leaves school hungry.
"Hunger in this state, in this country, is a societal failing. It is never an individual failing," Strasburger said. "It is a lack of resources, it is a lack of opportunity, and the other thing that I think is painful to hear, that is true, is we make a choice not to solve this problem in this country."
Strasburger said some after school programs are also able to use the funding to cover the cost of basic supplies that are essential to running an after-school program, including kitchenware and tangible items that may not be covered by the school or program's budget.
With their work, Oakhurst and Full Plates have been able to help create programs in Waldo County, Waterville, Westbrook's school district, at Westbrook Community Center, the Intercultural Community Center and more.
In Westbrook, vending machines that hold up to 100 prepared meals are available for students who attend Westbrook schools, providing them with an after-school meal daily.
Some 20 students in Westbrook participate in after-school programs like "Homework Help," two to three times a week, and about 70 students participate in "Westbrook Learns" two to three times a week. The after-school meal programs funded by Oakhurst and Full Plates ensures that each student gets fed while they are present to learn. Intercultural Community Center also feeds about a dozen kids four days a week with the help of the meal programs.
In the last two years the program has helped serve 200,000 meals to Maine children. Page said he's happy to be on board and step in where he sees the need.