Hannaford donates more than $200,000 to meet immediate and long-term needs of Lewiston and Auburn community

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

 

Hannaford donates more than $200,000 to meet immediate and long-term needs of Lewiston and Auburn community

 

Donation will expand access to mental health resources in the greater community through new position with Tri-County Mental Health’s “Project Support You” program

 

Funding will also support victims, families and the community through the Maine Community Foundation

 

Rapid response includes donations of food, water and gift cards to meet critical needs of the community in immediate aftermath of the tragedy

 

Scarborough, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced a total of $210,000 in donations to provide both immediate aid and long-term support to the residents of Lewiston and Auburn following last week’s tragic events.  

 

Hannaford initiated its support this past weekend with a rapid response to meet the critical needs of the community, including donations of food, water and gift cards to numerous resource sites and agencies serving those impacted by the tragedy.

 

In response to conversations with community leaders about where needs are greatest within the Lewiston-Auburn area, Hannaford is donating $110,000 to expand access to mental health resources in the community by fully funding a new care coordinator position through Tri-County Mental Health’s “Project Support You” program, which pairs trained mental health rehabilitation technicians who are also certified drug and alcohol counselors with first responders to respond and follow up with individuals experiencing mental health and substance misuse challenges.

 

The funding from Hannaford will also support the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund, which provides immediate and long-term aid to the victims, families and overall community impacted by the tragedy.

 

“Hannaford is woven into the fabric of Maine and we feel deeply connected to each community in our home state, including those in the Lewiston-Auburn area impacted by this devastating, senseless violence,” said Mike Vail, President of Hannaford Supermarkets. “The effects of this tragedy will be long-lasting and far-reaching. This donation supports both today’s urgent needs, as well as those yet unknown, and will also increase access to mental health resources in the community. At its heart, Maine is one big, tight-knit neighborhood. We remain committed to being there for our family, friends and neighbors as we grieve, heal and emerge more resilient than ever.”

 

The total of $210,000 in funding from Hannaford is being distributed as follows:

 

-$110,000 to expand mental health resources in the area by establishing a new care coordinator position through Tri-County Mental Health’s “Project Support You” program, a team of co-responders who work in close collaboration to meet the shared needs of residents in the sister communities of Lewiston and Auburn. The trained co-responder will ride along with City of Auburn first responders to serve individuals experiencing mental health and substance misuse challenges. Individuals are offered immediate assistance in the form of resource education and/or supportive intervention, and follow-up checks are periodically conducted to assess an individual’s progress and offer further assistance. This new position will bring the total number of care coordinators to four for the Lewiston-Auburn community.

 

-$50,000 to the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund to support both immediate and long-term needs of the victims, families and overall community impacted by the tragedy. All funding will be allocated to people directly impacted by the events and the organizations that will help guide Lewiston-Auburn through the process of healing.

 

-$15,500 to support the community’s immediate, critical needs, including $3,000 in gift cards to the Mental Health Community Resource Center for distribution to area residents seeking drop-in resources; $7,500 in gift cards to Tri-County Mental Health for distribution to the directly impacted families; and $5,000 in gift cards to the Lewiston Police Department, in addition to direct donations of food and water to numerous resource sites and agencies assisting the community during this time.

 

-$35,000 in funding will be distributed in the coming months to meet emerging, future needs of the victims and their families that are unknown at this early stage of the recovery period.

 

The Maine Community Foundation brings people and resources together to build a better Maine through strategic giving, community leadership, personalized service, local expertise and strong investments. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.  To donate to the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund, visit www.mainecf.org/initiatives-impact/lewiston-auburn-area-response-fund.

 

Tri-County Mental Health Services offers hope and healing to the people of Maine by providing trauma-informed, integrated services that promote whole health and wellness. To donate to Tri-County Mental Health, visit www.tcmhs.org.

 

Founded in Portland, Maine in 1883, Hannaford has served the greater Maine community for 140 years. Hannaford currently operates 66 stores in Maine, including locations in Lewiston and Auburn. For more information about Hannaford, visit www.hannaford.com.

 

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets operates 187 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 2022, Hannaford donated 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.

 

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Media Contact:

Caitlin Cortelyou

External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets

207-885-3132

caitlin.cortelyou@hannaford.com