 Hello, welcome to CTN member highlight. I'm Leslie Mcthane and today my guest is Suzanne McCormick CEO president of United Way of Greater Portland. Hi. Hi. Thanks for having me. Well, I'm glad you're here because we're going to be talking about Something very special coming up on September 11th. It is September 11. Yeah, it's your food drive It is for the last three years It's it's also it started as the kickoff of the United Way's annual community campaign and in days gone by we have had people come to Monument Square and done big rallies, but Three years ago we decided and we heard from people who are involved in the campaign that that simply marching and rallying Really didn't feel like they were starting to give back to the community. And so we decided to host a food drive Because hunger is such a big issue right now In our region and in our state and so we on September 11th We'll be having our can hunger food drive in three locations to invite the community to be part of Helping solve some of the most complex problems in front of us these days And the locations are Freeport Portland and Westbrook. Yes, and where in those towns or cities can can people leave Can goods or food and actually where we can talk about we are suggesting that folks review a list of healthy food choices to bring and They're invited to come in Freeport on Main Street at the to drop off in front of the big LL bean boot We'll be collecting food there. You can't miss that fill the boot fill the boot and Here in Portland will be at one canal Plaza right on the corner people can actually just drive up if they want We have wonderful take your food valet service So if you just want to drive by or walk by and then in Westbrook, we're going to be at the Bank of America branch location which is On Main Street 849 Main Street, and we're thrilled that Bank of America has invited us to be there The chair of our community campaign this year is Bill Williamson who is the president of Bank of America in Maine and so We're gonna we're gonna see if we can do some challenges with the banks as well to see who can bring in the most food Oh, that'll be fun, and I know they'll enjoy it. I think when it comes to hunger and food Everybody across the board understands that I know it's um, I think we see in the news and You and I have had some experience with I think that the population that is most heartbreaking is for kids And and we're seeing more and more in the work that we're doing in education is that kids are showing up at school Not really prepared to learn and and and really Put what they need to into the school day because they're coming hungry a third of the students in Cumberland County live in families that qualify for free and reduced lunch lunches and So when they're in school, they're getting food hopefully but When they go home in the evenings their parents are having to make hard choices and I met just a couple weeks ago with some of the leaders of Good Shepherd and Pueblo Street Resource Center who are leaders in and fighting hunger and In this economy it continues to be really really hard to serve all the people who are needing help right now And and it's hard because sometimes that sense of pride is It's big and and people don't want to let their neighbors know that they're in need and that they need food and It must be awful for a parent to have to send their child off without having eaten anything in the morning That's why I think it's some of the some of the work that we're trying to do to address hunger with our partners And they certainly are leading the way around advocacy is Breaking down some of the stigmas around hunger making it easy for schools to make it easy for families to Get their kids breakfast if they need it or lunch and that there's not a stigma attached with that There's also some really creative work being done to feed kids in the summer Summer food programs good shepherds doing some wonderful work Westbrook community. So again kids who have been getting food in the school year All of a sudden summer comes around and that's a really scary time because they can't count on that So that's that's a way. This is a way for the community to support Making sure that you know those kids get what they need even in the summertime And you made a good point earlier. We don't have very much time, but To choose healthy food when you bring the donations. Yes, is there a list on your web page? There is right on our web page, which is United Way GP org There's a wish list and so we're suggesting the kinds of food that people can bring people can bring anything that they have But certainly if we're trying to promote health and nutrition with families, these are probably some of the best choices We can offer right I think that's wonderful. Are you working as well? And I know this is a little extra with the farmers and farmers markets absolutely one of the the biggest Issues and opportunities is trying to get local produce to food pantries as well And so there's some good work to being done and there's more that can be done and there's need in every single community In the state without question if people don't realize that they need to get a quarter of manors Are going hungry on a daily basis to find out more they can go to United Way GP for greater Portland org And there should be an icon that says can hunger you can click on that and get all the information you need and all day In those three locations starting at 7 a.m. Until about 2 in the afternoon. All right Well, I'm gonna gather some food together. I'll be there. Thank you for being here my pleasure