Hannaford Supermarkets donated $210,000 to provide both immediate aid and long-term support to the residents of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, following last week’s mass shooting tragedy in the area.
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, according to the retailer.
In response to conversations with community leaders about the area’s greatest needs, 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 with first responders to respond and follow up with individuals experiencing mental health and substance misuse challenges.
A donation in the amount of $50,000 will go to supporting 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, in a statement. “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.”
The additional $50,000 is to be distributed as follows:
• $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.
Hannaford currently operates 66 stores in Maine.
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