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NECS Gives Back to Good Shepherd Food Bank

Written by Seth Blanchard on . Posted in News.

Feed Maine Telethon

Scarborough, ME – New England Cancer Specialists (NECS), the region’s largest medical oncology group, will be a “Matching Mainers” sponsor during the upcoming NEWS CENTER Maine Feed Maine Telethon. The Telethon takes place from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. this coming Thursday, May 7, with all donations benefitting the Good Shepherd Food Bank. During each “Matching Mainers” hour, every donation will be matched, up to $25,000 per hour. NECS will be a Matching Mainers sponsor from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. during the Telethon.  

Hunger in Maine is a serious issue, and has become even more pressing during the Coronavirus pandemic. Good Shepherd Food Bank estimates that the rate of people who lack access to good, healthy, and nutritious food—the food insecure—could grow by as much as 40%. Before the current health crisis, an estimated 180,000 Mainers were food insecure and needed help from food pantries. Good Shepherd Food Bank estimates that this number could reach 250,000 during this pandemic. 

NECS has partnered with Good Shepherd Food Bank​ for the past several years to study the impact of food insecurity and offer emergency food assistance to our patients in need. “We are proud to be able to continue supporting Good Shepherd and their vital work in our communities during this critical time.,” said NECS president, Dr. Chiara Battelli. ”It’s just the right thing to do.”

Donations during the Feed Maine Telethon can make the difference for a Maine family experiencing hunger.

  • $38 = An emergency food box to supplement a household meal budget for approximately 1 month
  • $150 = Food to sustain a child experiencing food insecurity for 2 months
  • $500 = Potatoes and apples to accompany 450 emergency boxes
  • $1,200 = provides 32 families with an emergency food box

These estimates are based on what Good Shepherd Food Bank learned from the unemployment and poverty rates that followed the Great Recession in 2008. Remember: all donations made during “Matching Mainers” hours will be matched, up to $25,000 per hour. The NECS Matching Mainers hour is from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. 

NECS CEO Steven D’Amato says, “From a cancer treatment perspective, we know that food insecurity is only one piece of the treatment matrix, but it’s a key one. People need to have enough food, and to be eating a healthy diet.”

About New England Cancer Specialists (NECS)

NECS is an independent medical oncology group including nearly half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists. NECS physicians, nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more information, visit http://www.newenglandcancerspecialists.org/.