More than 30 organizations in Maine will use the funds to increase access to food and social connections, creating a path to better health for older adults
BRUNSWICK – In the first of two micro-grant cycles, the Maine Council on Aging has awarded nearly $376,000 through Hannaford Supermarkets’ Connection, Health and Equity Through Food program across five states. Thirty-two organizations in Maine, from Berwick to Eagle Lake and Porter to Stonington, received grants in this cycle to improve the health and well-being of older adults statewide. The final micro-grant cycle is now open, and applications are being accepted online until June 30 at www.agefriendly.community.
“The response to the first CHEF grant cycle was impressive and demonstrates the significant challenges older people are facing accessing food and staying connected, particularly older people who have experienced economic disparities,” said MCOA Executive Director Jess Maurer. “We wish we could have funded every application we received, but stayed focused on funding programs and activities that will have a lasting impact on people and communities. We estimate nearly 236,000 people will benefit from the grants awarded in this cycle and encourage organizations to apply in this next cycle so we can expand that reach.”
“At Hannaford, we’re focused on making thoughtful investments that ensure all members of our communities, including older adults, are healthy and thriving,” said Sherri Stevens, community relations manager for Hannaford Supermarkets. “Community connection is imperative for our health and well-being as we grow older and face the challenges that come with aging. The organizations receiving funding through this first round of grants play a major role in connecting older adults with fresh, nutritious food and socialization opportunities that support mental health. We encourage other organizations to take advantage of this opportunity to support programs that put older adults at their center.”
Grant recipients are supporting the nutritional and social needs of older adults in a myriad of ways, including these awardees:
Alan Day Community Garden in Norway works in partnership with the MaineHealth Food Pantry, Oxford County Wellness Collaborative, The Progress Center, Senior Farmshare Program, and Somali Bantu Community Association to provide opportunities for community members to build relationships, learn, and grow food together. ADCG is using the grant funds to implement a Community Meals pilot program, specifically designed to create a social network for older adults living in rural communities around food, cooking, learning, and sharing meals together.
“We are so pleased to hear that our application has been accepted in our efforts to support and work with the aging people in our community,” said Alan Day Community Garden Executive Director Ricky Crocket. “On behalf of our organization and our community, thank you!”
Somali Bantu Community Association in Lewiston provides vital transitional services, advocacy, and resources for food production that empower members of the refugee community to uphold cultural identity and economic well-being to thrive in their new life here in Maine. Funds from CHEF will support the purchase of essential infrastructure and growing supplies at SBCA’s Liberation Farms for the Elder Farm Share program. Somali Bantu farmers participating in the program provide culturally relevant produce to Somali Bantu Elders, many of whom are homebound, helping to increase their access to traditional staple crops, connecting them to their greater community, and elevating their overall health.
Laura Neale, operations manager at Liberation Farms, expressed her deep appreciation for the CHEF grant. “Thank you so much! We are so excited for this opportunity.”
Niweskok (formerly known as Eastern Woodlands Rematriation) in Northport initiates and helps sustain existing community-led food and medicine projects across tribal communities in the Northeast. Niweskok restores polycultural food systems and local fisheries, assuring transmission of traditional medicine and foodways while re-engaging spiritual foundations of Wabanaki livelihoods. Their grant is helping Niweskok to expand two programs: the Wabanaki Foodways Workshops, where elders share their knowledge of traditional food practices, and the Elder Storytelling Project, which distributes traditional food grown and gathered by Wabanaki. During these visits, elders are videotaped sharing stories about traditional foodways.
“Woliwoni (thank you) for creating space to further uplift our work,” said Co-Director Alivia Moore. “Language loss has been deep in our community; we are working to do our part to reclaim our language. Our elders are the ones that hold us together, rooting us in our traditions and providing the springboard into the future. We are putting our elders back in the center of Wabanaki life through our work to rematriate food and medicine ways at Niweskok: From the Stars to Seeds.”
EqualityMaine in Portland is the oldest statewide organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society for LGBTQ+ Mainers. They offer programs, events, and activities through the Network for Older Adults to promote social interaction, self-empowerment, opportunities for advocacy, and community participation. NOA events are held in locations across the state and the CHEF grant is helping EQME expand NOA offerings and resources to older LGBTQ+ adults who may face social isolation, and empower them to make informed decisions about how they want to age.
“EqualityMaine’s Network for Older Adults programs, events, and activities promote social interaction, self-empowerment, and opportunities for community participation. We are very grateful for Maine Council on Aging’s generosity,” said Development Director Heide Lester. “With this wonderful support, we’ve already launched an additional monthly gathering in Ellsworth.”
Read the complete list of CHEF grant recipients.
CHEF was launched with a $1.3 million donation to MCOA from Hannaford on December 12, 2023, under the banner of Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative. The CHEF program funds organizations and projects through micro-grants in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York, that are supporting the needs of diverse older adults – including improving access to food and increasing opportunities for socialization. In addition to the grants, CHEF publishes a monthly newsletter and offers a series of free webinars through MCOA’s Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging. For more information about CHEF programming or to sign up for the newsletter visit www.agefriendly.community/chef/.
Hannaford introduced Eat Well, Be Well in September 2022 to help break down the barriers that challenge access to healthy, nutritious food and wellness resources. Hannaford has donated nearly $3 million to organizations under the Eat Well, Be Well banner.
To learn more about the overall impact of the CHEF program, view the video.
For more information about Hannaford’s community efforts and charitable giving initiatives, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.
Hannaford Supermarkets operates 189 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences, and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2023, Hannaford donated 26 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
The Maine Council on Aging is a broad, multi-disciplinary network of more than 135 organizations, businesses, municipalities, and older Mainers working to ensure we can all live healthy, engaged, and secure lives as we age in our homes and community settings. For more information, visit MaineCouncilOnAging.org.
