Shaw’s is reinstating donations to food pantries across New England

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Shaw’s Supermarkets has agreed to reverse a policy and resume contributions to food pantries throughout New England.

The announcement comes at a time of high food insecurity in Maine and follows pressure from Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who has made eliminating food waste a goal in Congress.

After the initial rollout of the program in Massachusetts and Maine, Shaw’s will expand to its stores in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

In 2013, Shaw’s notified all Maine food banks and pantries that it would no longer donate food. A spokeswoman declined to say why Tuesday, instead stating: “At the time we were re-evaluating a number of our business processes.”

But Shaw’s two warehouses in Massachusetts and Maine, along with several Maine stores, continued to donate food. Last December, the Shaw’s in Brunswick said it would stop donating.

Pingree wrote to Shaw’s asking them to reconsider. In an interview, she said it’s possible the company had liability concerns if, for example, some food went bad. But, she said, “We reinforced to them that there are plenty of good Samaritan liability protections.”

Now, Shaw’s says it’s in a position to relaunch the Fresh Program by working with the charity Feeding America.

Karen Parker, executive director of the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick, said the pantry went only a month without donations from Shaw’s and now picks up about 600 pounds of food each week from the store.

Parker said they’re “thrilled” that donations are starting up again throughout the state.

Shaw’s is working with Good Shepherd Food Bank of Auburn to distribute donated food to its 400 partners across Maine.

The group’s spokeswoman said although details are being worked out, donations could resume in “weeks if not sooner.”

Kimberly Gates, executive director of Bath Area Food Bank, said the food pantry was devastated three years ago when Shaw’s halted its weekly donations of 300 to 400 pounds of meat. Now, she’s eagerly awaiting a “magic phone call” about the details.

“I saw it in the paper, and it was like Christmas for me,” she said.