Hannaford Supermarkets and the Portland Public Schools have teamed up to launch a new school-based food pantry at Portland High School — which officially opened Sept. 16. The pantry will expand food access for students and their families in need. As many as 500 students are expected to use the pantry each month.

Hannaford donated $10,000 to the school to fully renovate the space, purchase refrigeration and storage, and stock the shelves with fresh, nutritious food options for students. 
The pantry is the 200th school-based pantry established through Hannaford’s Fuel Kids
at School program, which helps launch and support pantries in schools and colleges
across the northeast in partnership with regional food banks and local hunger relief
organizations.

“At Hannaford, we’re deeply committed to doing our part to help kids, families and
communities thrive,” said Mike Vail, President of Hannaford Supermarkets. “School
pantries like the one at Portland High School play a vital role in ensuring students have
access to the nourishing food they need, so they can focus on learning and reaching
their full potential. Through continued investments in our Fuel Kids at School initiative
and the incredible work of our community partners, we’re proud to support the growth
and success of future generations.”

“The Portland Public Schools appreciates this generous gift from Hannaford,” said Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon. “This initiative to ensure students
have access to nourishing food supports the Whole Child priority in our strategic plan. That priority commits us to working to make sure all students have what they need to engage
in school and graduate prepared and empowered.”

Portland High School Principal Sheila Jepson said that the school’s Culture and Climate Coordinators Heather Gilbert and Bob Carroll spearheaded the pantry initiative at PHS. While The Locker Project has partnered with the school since 2019 to provide food staples and fresh produce, this new pantry expands the range of food offered and is more accessible. The pantry now is located in a dedicated space in the school that make it easier for students to stop in to get groceries and it has a refrigerator — which means they’ll be able to access perishable goods, such as meat and cheese and other dairy products.

Jepson stressed that The Locker Project will remain “integral” to the new pantry, continuing to supply food. The South Portland-based organization is committed to supporting programs that offer food to students in a welcoming and stigma-free environment. 

“Our school partners, like Portland High School, are central to our efforts to ensure that
all the kids in our community have reliable access to healthy food,” said Kathryn
Sargent, Executive Director of The Locker Project. “As cuts to the safety net lead more
families to seek help, our partnerships with businesses are more important than ever.
We’ve been fortunate to partner with Hannaford since the launch of Fuel Kids at School
and have seen firsthand the impact of their ongoing support for healthy food access.”

The opening of the new Portland High School pantry comes as schools across the
district and the surrounding region report a rising number of students facing food
insecurity. According to Good Shepherd Food Bank, more than 23,000 Maine
families received food through school-based hunger relief programs in 2024 — more than
double the 11,000 families in 2023. In Portland, school leaders anticipate the new pantry
will serve as many as 500 students each month.

Since its inception in 2019, Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School program has invested more
than $1.6 million to help establish and support more than 200 pantries throughout New
England and New York, including 75 in Maine. Through partnerships with school
districts, food banks and hunger relief organizations, the Fuel Kids at School program
has helped expand food access for students at all grades levels from preschool through
college. For more information about Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School program,
visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.

PHOTOS: ABOVE: Hannaford Supermarkets President Mike Vail and Portland High School Principal Sheila Jepson stock the first food items at the opening of the new school-based food pantry. The new pantry at Portland High School is the 200th school-based pantry established through Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School program.

BELOW: Hannaford Supermarkets associates join students at Portland High School to stock a new school-based food pantry. The pantry will expand food access for students and families in need. Hannaford donated $10,000 to the school to fully renovate the space, purchase refrigeration and storage, and stock the shelves with nutritious food options for students.

About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets is a leading regional grocer operating 188 stores in the
Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Since 1883, Hannaford has been
dedicated to delivering fresh, high-quality food with care, while creating “more good” in
its communities. Guided by its purpose to cultivate thriving communities, Hannaford
continues to build on its commitment to uncommon care by supporting local community
partners, being the most welcoming place to work and shop, and taking thoughtful steps
to protect the planet for future generations. In 2024, Hannaford donated more than 27.6
million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and supported approximately 135
community partners across its footprint, helping expand access to fresh food, advance
youth development, and support healthier lives. Headquartered in Scarborough, Maine,
with stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont,
Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates. Additional information can be found at
Hannaford.com. 

About the Portland Public Schools
The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with nearly 6,500
students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come
from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of about 60
languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent
are students of color. More than half of all PPS students are economically
disadvantaged.