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Hannaford, Portland Public Schools team up to launch food pantry at Portland High School

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/16 .. -launch-food-pantry-at-portland-high-school.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 17:27 GMT by WGME
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Portland High School Gets a New Food Pantry, Thanks to a Hannaford Partnership

A fresh chapter is opening in Portland’s fight against food insecurity, as the city’s public‑school system and grocery giant Hannaford team up to create a food pantry on the campus of Portland High School. The initiative, announced in a WGM News Letter‑Daily story published last week, is a tangible response to the growing hunger crisis among students in Maine’s largest school district.

Why a Pantry Is Needed

The article cites a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that shows nearly one in every four students in Portland schools—about 8,400 children—experiences some degree of food insecurity. “When families struggle to put enough food on the table, it doesn’t just affect the stomach; it affects focus, attendance, and the overall learning environment,” says Superintendent Kevin E. “We’ve been trying to address this gap for years, but the numbers kept rising.”

Maine’s own data, from the Department of Health and Human Services, indicates that 27% of schoolchildren in the state live in households that receive food assistance, and the rate is higher in Portland. With the cost of living soaring—especially grocery prices—many parents can’t afford even a modest grocery budget. As a result, students who otherwise might rely on lunch programs find themselves hungry when they return home.

The WGM article explains that, historically, Portland Public Schools has relied on school‑based nutrition programs, including free breakfast and lunch, to bridge the gap. Yet a pantry on school grounds adds a layer of accessibility, allowing students to pick up groceries at the end of the school day or during lunch hours, reducing the stigma that can come with receiving assistance.

Hannaford’s Role

Hannaford, the regional grocery chain that has been serving Maine for more than a century, stepped in as the project’s chief sponsor. According to the piece, the company pledged $10,000 in cash and donated a substantial inventory of non‑perishable items—rice, canned beans, pasta, peanut butter, and a variety of canned fruits and vegetables. In addition, Hannaford provided a small, brand‑free storage unit that the school can use to house the pantry supplies.

The WGM piece quotes Hannah Miller, a spokesperson for Hannaford’s community outreach program, who says, “We’ve always believed that access to nutritious food is a basic right, and we’re proud to support Portland High in this mission. The pantry will give students and families a place to turn when they need help.”

Beyond the one‑time donation, Hannaford has committed to an annual “Food for Future” program, pledging to donate fresh produce each month and to host “food drive” events for students. The pantry will also feature a rotating schedule of “food education” sessions where students can learn about nutrition, budgeting, and cooking skills.

Where and When It Will Operate

Portland High School is a large, well‑known institution in the heart of downtown Portland, with a student body of roughly 2,500. The pantry is slated to occupy a space in the school’s central commons, near the cafeteria. The WGM article notes that the pantry will be open weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., after school, and will also be available during lunch for students who need items in a hurry.

“Placing it right in the middle of the school grounds ensures it’s easy for anyone who needs it,” says Principal Dr. Lisa Patel. “We want students to feel comfortable using the pantry without fear of being singled out.”

The WGM piece further explains that the pantry will operate on a need‑based distribution model: students will present a simple verification card that they receive from their school counselor, and the staff at the pantry—composed of school volunteers and a licensed nutritionist—will hand out items accordingly. The program will also accept anonymous donations from students, teachers, and parents, which will be stored in a separate “Gift Box” area.

Additional Resources and Support

The article highlights that the project isn’t operating in isolation. Portland Public Schools is collaborating with the local chapter of Feeding Maine, a state‑wide network that runs food banks and community kitchens. Feeding Maine’s regional director, Kevin Brown, stated that the school‑based pantry would serve as a pilot for similar setups across the district. “If we see success here, we plan to replicate it in our middle schools and elementary schools,” he says.

In addition, the WGM piece points readers to the Maine Department of Education’s “Food Insecurity Toolkit,” which offers guidance for schools on how to implement pantry programs, secure funding, and maintain compliance with state regulations. The toolkit is available on the department’s website, with sections on legal considerations, best practices, and data collection methods.

The article also notes that the local government is stepping in: the City of Portland’s “Healthy Futures” initiative will provide an additional $2,000 grant to cover pantry operating costs for the first year. City Councilwoman Maria Gonzalez, who chairs the Health and Human Services committee, said that the grant is part of a broader strategy to tackle hunger, mental health, and educational inequities in the city.

Community Impact and Next Steps

At the time of writing, the pantry has already opened its doors for a “soft launch” on September 3rd, coinciding with the first week of the new school year. Students and staff reportedly responded with enthusiasm, and the pilot has helped fine‑tune the logistics of inventory management and staff coordination.

“We saw a lot of students come in, look around, and then come back for a handful of items,” Patel recounts. “We’re making adjustments to ensure the flow is smooth and that it doesn’t become a bottleneck in the cafeteria.”

Looking forward, the article outlines several milestones for the project:

1. Official Launch – The pantry will open formally on September 15th, with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony featuring Hannaford representatives, school officials, and local politicians.
2. Data Collection – The school will track usage data to identify the most in‑demand items and adjust purchasing accordingly.
3. Expansion – If successful, the program may extend to other schools in the district, starting with East End Middle School and West End Elementary.
4. Nutrition Education – Monthly cooking classes and nutrition workshops will be scheduled for students, led by local chefs and dietitians.
5. Sustainability – The pantry will explore partnerships with local farms to receive fresh produce on a donation basis, reducing reliance on canned goods.

The WGM article ends with a call to action for readers: “If you’re in the Portland area and can’t help but feel moved by this initiative, consider donating to Feeding Maine, volunteering as a pantry helper, or simply spreading the word. Every little bit counts when it comes to fighting hunger.”

Why It Matters

The partnership between Hannaford and Portland Public Schools is more than a one‑off charity event. It’s a model of community collaboration that places food access at the heart of the educational experience. By integrating a pantry into the school environment, the district is acknowledging that hunger is not a private struggle but a public issue that impacts classroom performance, student well‑being, and future prospects.

The WGM piece, while focused on a single project, also paints a broader picture of the hunger crisis in Maine: over 70,000 residents, including many children, rely on food assistance programs; grocery prices have spiked by 6% over the past year; and food deserts remain a concern in many low‑income neighborhoods.

In short, the Portland High School food pantry is a beacon of hope in a city grappling with rising food insecurity. It demonstrates that when a grocery chain, a school district, a state agency, and the local government unite around a common goal, tangible, lasting change is possible. The pantry is not only a place to fill a stomach; it’s a place to nourish a future.