Funding will enhance programs that help Maine children eat healthier and stay active with the goal of reducing risk for chronic disease
SCARBOROUGH — Hannaford Supermarkets recently announced a $400,000 investment in Maine-based programs that work to positively impact the health of children statewide. The funding will benefit Full Plates Full Potential and Let’s Go! to support their efforts to ensure all kids are connected to fresh, quality foods and nutrition education to live healthier lives.
The donations are part of a $1.3 million investment in programs that positively impact child health and wellness across New England and New York. The funding is the latest chapter of Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative, which paves the way for healthier futures by increasing access to nutritious foods.
Nationally, almost 20 percent of children aged 2-19 are considered to have obesity. The statistic highlights a growing need to address the potential long-term impacts of obesity on the physical health of children, including an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. The funding from Hannaford will not only support greater access to healthy food but also improve nutrition education resources for children – ultimately fostering a healthier future for the entire family.
“It’s essential we provide children with the right tools to develop healthy habits at an early age,” said Mike Vail, president at Hannaford Supermarkets. “We’re incredibly proud to support these meaningful programs, which will create a positive, lasting impact on the lives of children in our communities. By investing in the next generation today, we’re establishing the foundation for thriving communities tomorrow.”
A $200,000 donation to Full Plates Full Potential will allow the organization to directly support Maine school districts to find innovative ways to meet new federal nutrition standards for school meals, including using local ingredients and cooking from scratch rather than using heavily processed products.
“Hannaford’s support is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together to ensure Maine kids have access to healthy, nutritious foods,” said Justin Strasburger, executive director of Full Plates Full Potential. “With this funding, we have the opportunity to help schools provide fresh, locally sourced meals to our students, and we’re proud to work alongside Hannaford to end childhood food insecurity in Maine once and for all.”
Let’s Go! will also receive $200,000 in funding to expand programming that encourages kids to get active and develop healthy habits at a young age. Through a partnership with PlayWorks, Let’s Go! works with schools and community organizations to develop programming that gives children the tools they need to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle through play. The evidence-based program has resulted in improvements in energy, self-esteem, nutrition, and fitness, as well as decreased progression of diabetes in kids.
“We are thrilled to be awarded the Hannaford Child Health Grant which will enable Let’s Go! to expand programming to positively impact nutrition and physical activity within our current evidence-based programs,” said Carrie Gordon, MD, medical director Healthy Eating, Active at MaineHealth. “These additional opportunities support MaineHealth’s commitment to ensuring our communities are the healthiest in America.”
In addition to the $400,000 investment, Hannaford will provide nearly $20,000 in gift cards to Full Plates Full Potential and Let’s Go! The partners can use the gift cards to purchase healthy snacks, such as Hannaford Snack Pals, for children, further supporting their shared mission to enhance nutrition and well-being in the community.
Hannaford established the “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative in September 2022 to help break down the barriers that challenge access to healthy, nutritious food and wellness resources. Over the past three years, Hannaford has provided more than $4 million in funding to community organizations under the Eat Well, Be Well banner.
For more information about Hannaford’s community efforts and charitable giving initiatives, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.
