Lousy shepherds
Re: the report by Patrick Banks on food being thrown out by a Portland supermarket (“Food activists slam Whole Foods,” Dec. 20). It’s a shame that no one apparently thought to call the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, the largest operation of its kind in Maine. After reading Banks’ article, I wondered if Whole Foods was even aware of GSFB, which distributed nearly 10 million pounds of food to pantries throughout Maine last year.
While Whole Foods was apparently not entirely sure about what to do with its food, GSFB receives 60 percent of its food in the form of donations from Hannaford. I wonder how many of your readers are aware of what this company does to feed Maine’s hungry. I also wonder if Whole Foods would negotiate a similar agreement with GSFB if aware of the option.
Am I affiliated with GSFB? No. I’m just a reader who, like the activists featured in The Bollard, is appalled at the idea of all that food going to waste. After reading the story, I went to GSFB’s Web site, which outlines what kinds of food may be donated. (The Web site also addresses the issue of liability on the part of food donors; thanks to a federal law enacted during the Clinton years, there is little.)
Would this information have solved this problem? I don’t know. But it might prevent such waste in the future.
Jennifer Sullivan
Auburn
Editor’s note: The Bollard contacted Whole Foods to ask whether the market was aware of Good Shepherd Food Bank. Spokesperson Marissa Perry said, “I have no interest in speaking to you. I thought [Banks’] article was horrible. I couldn’t even believe the language in it. We give to food banks every day.” Perry then hung up.
— Chris Busby
