The Alfond Youth & Community Center recently received a $1,000 grant as part of The Starbucks Foundation’s Neighborhood Grants program.

This award is due to a nomination from a local Starbucks partner employee who recognized the work of the organization in central Maine in food security. Through this program, The foundation invites partners to nominate a local organization in their community.

Since 2019, more than 6,000 grants have been awarded to organizations, amounting to more than $10 million, according to a news release from the center.

This grant will be used to provide snacks to the growing number of youth participating in the center’s After School program satellite location at China Primary School. This site does not qualify for funding from the Child and Adult Care Food Program, but the majority of the youth participating in the program experience food insecurity.

The support from the foundation will enable the center to continue providing after-school snacks to all participating youth at no charge.

“As we continue to grow our presence in the central Maine area, support from community partners like Starbucks is imperative to succeed,” said Ken Walsh, CEO of the Alfond Youth & Community Center. “We are so grateful for this generous grant to put towards helping us feed hungry kids.”

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