Cumberland County Food Security Council

Greater Portland, Maine is bounded by a dramatic ocean and thriving farms, all sources of nourishing food for our communities. We have diverse student populations with more than 70 languages spoken in our three partner school districts of Portland, South Portland and Westbrook.

The FoodCorps member will serve with Cumberland County Food Security Council. Our mission is to increase food access for vulnerable people in our county by working together to initiate, strategize and innovate solutions to hunger by advocating, sharing information and resources, and taking collective action. Our focus is to address the root causes of hunger and poverty.

We have developed the Food Fuels Learning model in partnership with Portland Public Schools taking a whole school food system approach to building nutrition security. Corps members, as part of our team, will develop creative initiatives to increase participation in school meals. Strategies include working with school nutrition departments and other staff to promote menu development, support the implementation of certified halal meals, and collect student feedback. Fun activities include taste testing new menu options , hosting student food councils,  and engaging students and parents in conversations and celebrations of local food.

When you ​w​ork with ​us in Maine, you are joining a family of ​5 ​FoodCorps member​s​ working in different schools in the Southern and South Western part of the state. ​As a cohort we connect both virtually and in person, spend time together, learn, and enjoy all the natural beauty and excellent food culture Maine has to offer. No matter where you are, you have the support of the cohort, FoodCorps staff including Director of Program Impact Brendon Bassett, and Maine Manager of Program Impact Malia Demers who grew up in Maine and love​s sharing all that is great about this state ​with ​members. We hope will put down roots here and continue to be an important part of Maine.