Feed York County
Join the Campaign to Launch and Fund the York County Food Hub.
Help Us Fight Hunger Countywide
Our vision for the county’s first and largest food security hub is coming into focus.
After years of planning and consultation with civic leaders and food systems experts, the York County Food Hub will begin operations in Fall 2026 with a mission to reduce food insecurity throughout York County. Located in ~7,500 sf of warehouse space in Biddeford, Maine, we’re excited to get started, but these early years are our most vulnerable.
For the Hub to reach its full potential, we need your help.
Your financial support for the York County Food Hub will help us invest in the critical infrastructure and staffing required to achieve our goals. We need trucks, equipment, and people to source more and healthier foods for pantries, engage in food rescue at scale, and deliver innovative antihunger services.
There’s never been a resource like this one devoted exclusively to the needs of York County residents. Working together, we can strengthen our local food system and feed our most vulnerable and food insecure neighbors.
Make a Gift Today
Food insecurity in York County is real and rising. If you’re ready to make a difference, make your secure online donation today.
Key Features of our Facility
Take a look at York County’s first food security hub.
Centrally located in Biddeford, Maine
7,500 sf of Warehouse Space
Commercial Kitchen Space
2,000 sf of Cold Storage
Advantages of a Food Security Hub
A fully operational Hub will offer these services and benefits to support county food programs.
Shared Storage
Refrigeration, freezer, and dry storage space shared by county food programs.
Logistics Support
A fleet of trucks and heavy equipment to support food pickup and drop-off.
Food Prep Capacity
Space and equipment to prepare, preserve, or repurpose perishable foods.
Food Rescue
A destination for surplus food from farms, trucks, and institutions.
Central Location
Located immediately off I-95, convenient to food donors and pantries.
Low or No Cost to Pantries
Most Hub services and food are free to participating local organizations.
Hunger In York County
We live in Maine’s second most affluent county and yet too many of our neighbors go hungry. Learn more about local food insecurity trends and why the work of York County Food Hub is so vital.
-
12.5% of York County residents are food insecure, including nearly 1 in 5 children, and several factors are accelerating hunger. Most notably, SNAP participation in the county is down ~7% since 2025 federal regulatory changes.
Inflation and economic pressures further widen the gap between living wages and basic needs. United Way estimates 41% of York County households have difficulty meeting essential needs such as food and housing.
York County also has a large older population, many of whom live on low and fixed incomes. A new AARP survey highlights their struggle: 36 percent of low-income seniors (65+) say they are worried they will run out of food each month before they have money to buy more.
-
York County has 25 pantries and another 25 or so meal and food programs.
Most are small, volunteer run, and woefully underresourced.
Our survey of county pantries uncovered common challenges including: rising food costs, lack of storage space, inconsistent access to healthy, fresh food options, and rising demand.
Good Shepherd Food Bank confirms pantry visits are up 10% statewide in 2026.
-
Our region is home to hotels, restaurants, schools, and other institutions that create significant food waste.
York County generates an estimated 800 million lbs of food waste per year, equal to 360 lbs per resident.
While not all discarded food can be rescued, UMaine estimates at least 12 percent of food waste is edible and could be donated to hunger organizations.
Community Voices
When you give to York County Food Hub, you join other community leaders and citizens who support our mission and invest in our work.
“This is the countywide solution that’s been needed for a long time. I urge others to join me in supporting the York County Food Hub.”
“Hunger in York County is solvable with more collaboration and innovation at the food system level. That’s what the York County Food Hub will provide and why it is so worthy of investment.”
“I am passionate about increasing access to nutritious, local food for our neighbors in the community. I am very excited for the York County Food Hub as its mission closely aligns with ours.”
“Supporting York County Food Hub means investing in a more resilient and connected food system. We’re excited to support the organization and watch it grow.”
“This is a collaborative, intentional approach to food security creating a web of support for the agencies serving York County and county residents. ”
“Maine has seen a tragic rise in hunger in recent years, undescoring the need for organizations like the York County Food Hub.”
Your Gift Helps Feed York County
Our goal is to raise 3.5 million dollars over the next two years
to fund the infrastructure and staffing required to operate at scale and deliver innovative hunger relief programs countywide.
Every dollar counts and tax deductible donations of any size can be made online or by check to York County Food Hub, c/o 5 Oak Street, Kennebunk, ME, 04043. We can also accept and administer stock gifts through our trusted brokerage partner.
Recognition options for major gifts (donations of $10,000 or more) are outlined below.
Benefactor Levels
Your name prominently displayed on our donor wall
FOUNDER
$250,000
BUILDER
$150,000
SUSTAINER
$100,000
SUPPORTER
$50,000
COLLABORATOR
$25,000
FRIEND
$10,000
Capital Naming
Support these critical investments in our infrastructure
Help us renovate and add additional equipment to our kitchen, allowing us to more effectively utilize rescue food and scale production of ready-to-eat meals. Your name prominently displayed at the kitchen entrance.
KITCHEN
$250,000
Fund the construction and retrofitting of a bus or box truck for use as a pantry on wheels. Our first-ever Pantry Mobile will be used to bring fresh food and produce to underserved individuals at sites throughout York County
PANTRY MOBILE
$150,000
Fund our fleet. We need refrigerated trucks, delivery trucks, and vans to enable food pickup and delivery across the county. Your donation puts your name on the vehicle of your choice.
TRUCKS & VANS
$100,000
WAREHOUSE
ESSENTIALS
$100,000
The hardworking equipment that helps us run the warehouse. A forklift. A cardboard baler. An industrial floor scale. We’ll acknowledge your gift with signage at our loading docks.
If you are considering a pledge or gift to the Campaign to Fund the York County Food Hub, we would be happy to arrange a meeting or call to discuss your plans and options.
Please contact Alex Gramling, President, at info@yorkcountyfoodhub.org or (978) 417-9738
You can also make your gift today online.