The Opportunity Alliance and Hannaford Supermarkets Celebrate New Food Resource at Lake Region High School
Left to right: Maggie Thornton, Principal of Lake Region High School; Madison Edwards, Assistant Store Manager at Hannaford in Bridgton; Tim Perry, Store Manager at Hannaford in Bridgton; Susie Guthro, Community Builder at The Opportunity Alliance; and Christina Byther Lake Region High School Assistant Principal.
October 10, 2025, NAPLES, ME –The Opportunity Alliance (TOA), Hannaford Supermarkets, and Lake Region High School today celebrated the creation of a food closet, with food available to students at no cost. This partnership creates a meaningful new resource, providing access to healthy, high-quality food for students, free of charge.
“Hannaford is proud to partner with The Opportunity Alliance to support the growth and success of future generations here in the Lake Region,” said Tim Perry, store manager at Hannaford’s Bridgton store. “School-based pantries play a vital role in expanding students' access to nourishing food, ultimately helping to ensure their academic success and overall wellbeing. Through our Fuel Kids at School initiative, we’ve now helped establish pantries in over 200 schools across New England and New York.”
The food closet was created thanks to a $15,000 investment from Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School program to install shelves and refrigeration, purchase food items and supplies, as well as fund initial support staff. The pantry officially opened to students at the beginning of the school year and will maintain a consistent stock of frozen and non-perishable nutritious food and create a safe, discreet, and judgment-free environment for food access. TOA’s Community Builder has established a consistent presence in the school and will oversee the food closet and manage food inventory. The school’s administration will refer students to the food closet as needed.
“Access to food, especially healthy and high-quality food, is a cornerstone of our mission. By meeting this critical basic need, we can help stabilize individuals so they can focus on their education,” said TOA President & CEO Joe Everett. “At The Opportunity Alliance, we recognize that it takes all of us working side-by-side to make a true difference in the community. We are so grateful to Hannaford and the staff at Lake Region High School, who were true partners in this project.”
“The school has seen firsthand how hunger can impact a student’s academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being,” said Lake Region High School Assistant Principal Christina Byther. “We are so excited to have this resource for our students.”
About The Opportunity Alliance
To build better lives and stronger communities across Maine, The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) supports people with the programs and resources they need to improve their health, safety, and stability. Through dozens of integrated and community-based programs, TOA serves more than 24,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With 60 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Learn more about TOA by visiting their website at www.OpportunityAlliance.org.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets is a leading regional grocer operating 188 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Since 1883, Hannaford has been dedicated to delivering fresh, high-quality food with care, while creating “more good” in its communities. Guided by its purpose to cultivate thriving communities, Hannaford continues to build on its commitment to uncommon care by supporting local community partners, being the most welcoming place to work and shop, and taking thoughtful steps to protect the planet for future generations. In 2024, Hannaford donated more than 27.6 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and supported approximately 135 community partners across its footprint, helping expand access to fresh food, advance youth development, and support healthier lives. Headquartered in Scarborough, Maine, with stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
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