Food Distribution from The Good Helper Foundation

In order to confront the food challenges of immigrant families caused by rental price disparities here in Maine, The Good Helper Foundation (GHF) carried out the distribution of African food products from November 1st through the 30th among those impacted by the rise in rental costs. Families who receive General Assistance are in a position to receive assistance with their rent payments as long as their food allotment and other necessities were reduced.

The GHF identified several immigrant families who had an urgent need for food assistance. The foundation selected two local grocery stores selling African products. The first was “Maria Grocery Store” at 20 Aldred Street, Suite 101 in Biddeford, Maine 04005. The second was SYON SHOP & SERVICE at 229 Lisbon Street, in Lewiston, Maine 04240. With the help of a Google Form called “Food Order,” containing a list of basic African foods along with unit prices and quantities to choose from, a dollar amount was granted to each family based on their size.

The Roll-Out :

The GHF sent out a text message or WhatsApp message with a link to the “Food Order” to every eligible family, along with a list of instructions. The GHF then gathered all of the orders in their database and proceeded to transmit these to their designated suppliers. When all of the orders were ready, the families were informed to come and collect them. 

First Delivery :

The supplier, Maria Grocery, assembled all of the orders for several families and brought them to the delivery location at Kennedy Park on November 14th, 2023 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Second Delivery : 

The supplier, SYON SHOP & SERVICE, for their part, gathered the different families on site at their store according to availability to receive their orders on November 20th, 2023. 

The Result : 

After the distribution, an anonymous opinion poll conducted with “Qualtrics XM” was sent out to all of the recipients to collect their comments and impressions on the process. The great majority of recipients found the method of remote ordering through a link to be easy and practical, expressing their gratitude for The Good Helper Foundation and The Good Shepherd Food Bank, who made this initiative possible. 

In total, 22 families, including 84 individuals of which 41 were children, benefited from this distribution of products such as fresh and smoked fish, salted fish, and cassava leaves.

Testimonials : 

Peter, head of a household with eight members, declares, “The help we received means a lot to me. Thank you so much, I have what I need to feed my family for a good while with things that we enjoy.”

Joao, a father of a family with six members, commented, “It’s a heavy weight that you have lifted off of our shoulders. Thank you.”

Conclusion : 

This humanitarian effort on the part of The Good Helper Foundation demonstrates a deep commitment to the community of immigrant families in Maine. In the face of food difficulties that have been exacerbated by the rise in rental prices, the distribution of African food products has brought solid and timely relief.

Let us together support the continued mission of The Good Helper Foundation, for it is through such action that we contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient community for all. 

Thank you to everyone who made this food distribution possible and especially to The Good Shepherd Food Bank — may they continue to inspire this positive change.

Together, we’re making a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.

Donate here:  https://donorbox.org/you-can-make-it-happens