St. Mary's Regional Medical Center - Nutrition Center of Maine

What is it?

The Nutrition Center promotes community health through organizing, advocacy and education. Programs include emergency food distribution (St. Mary’s Food Pantry); hands-on cooking and nutrition education for all ages; community gardens for low-income families (Lots to Gardens); garden education programs for children; FoodCorps programs in public schools; intensive job training programs for teens; three summer and winter farmers’ markets; and collaborative community assessment and planning activities.

Who is it for?

Families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds at an increased risk for food insecurity and poor health.

Why do they do it?

Increasing access to healthy food is a strategy for improving community health.

Impact

More than 600 children, teens and adults participate in hands-on cooking education classes annually and 115 families grow food in community gardens. The food pantry serves approximately 1,500 households a month. Surveys show that participants increase healthy food use after engaging in Nutrition Center programming.

Contact: Kirsten Walter
Director
Telephone: 207-513-3848
E-mail: kwalter@stmarysmaine.com