We Sustain Maine (WSM)

1. We Sustain Maine (WSM)

2. Who is Spectrum Generations? • We are the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging • celebrating 40 years of helping older and disabled adults. • Meals On Wheels Provider • Social Dining Site Provider • Health & Wellness Programs • Activities and Special Events • Consumer Information & Assistance • Bridges Home Care • Adult Day Care • Family Caregiver

3. Meals on Wheels • by the Numbers • Projected meals for 2012 • 212,000 Meals on Wheels • 88,000 Social Dining Meals • Serving 130 towns and villages in a 6,600 square mile region • We pride ourselves on never putting hungry • seniors on a waiting list for Spectrum • Generations Meals On Wheels Program

4. National Award Winning • Senior Nutrition Program • How can we provide homebound seniors with the best tasting, most nutritious meals possible? • Use fresh food products from local Maine farmers. • In 2011 Spectrum Generations did just this and • WSM became a national award winning program.

5. From the Fields of Maine Farms • to the Plates of Maine Seniors • A Triple Win • WSM sustains better nutrition for Maine’s seniors • WSM sustains the market for Maine’s farmers • WSM sustains Maine’s economy • by buying local

6. The Maine Dish Cook-off • An annual statewide expo to showcase Maine-grown foods • A cooking competition televised throughout Maine • Teams of local cooks will create new menu items using Maine grown foods • Celebrity judges will select winning dishes to be incorporated into Meals OnWheels menus • This will build public awareness and support for • Meals On Wheels and Maine farming

7. Benefits of We Sustain Maine • Maine’s seniors receive healthy meals prepared and packaged in our own kitchens (Maine’s only Meals On Wheels program that produces all of its own meals). • Maine’s farmers benefit from a high-volume, reliable customer for their products. • Maine’s environment is less stressed with long distance, out-of-state trucking and shipping. Reduces the Global Footprint. • Maine’s economy benefits from local dollars directly reinvested into local economies. • Maine’s reputation as a regional and national leader in sustainable agriculture and food security is enhanced.

8. Strategic Advantages • Ending senior hunger is at the heart of our mission • Support Maine agriculture • Promotes your meal program and allows you to market other senior programs • Collaborations and Networking brings high visibility as a trend setter • The demand for Meals On Wheels has been growing by 15% every year since 2008

9. Funding and Partners Collaborative funding alliances with private and public sector organizations committed to Maine’s economy and sustainable farming are a prime strategy for ending senior hunger. Partners for WE SUSTAIN MAINE include: • Walmart Foundation/Meals On Wheels Association of America • William & Elsie Viles Foundation • Waterville Rotary • Sukeforth Charitable Trust

10. Funding and Partners, cont. • Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation • Jane’s Trust Foundation • Gaunce’s Family Dealership / Toyota • Environmental Health Strategy Center of Maine • Maine Department of Agriculture (“Get Real, Get Maine”) • Maine Food Producers Alliance; ELF – Eat Local Foods • MOFGA – Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association • Broad Reach Foundation • Betterment Fund • Wholesome Wave Foundation • ME Health Access Foundation

11. Associated Costs • Purchasing locally grown, sustainable food products = modest price increases. • Result: strategic purchasing plan – linking menus to growing seasons. • Maximize seasonal purchasing efficiencies = additional storage space. • Result: purchase a “quick chill” freezing unit to expand capacity by 1700 additional meals per week. • Reconfigure interior of outdated kitchens to accommodate larger storage volume. • Result: Plan for a multiyear sustainability plan to cover the projected $400,000 in cost and anticipate growth.

12. Muskie Center Before the Renovation

13. Muskie Center After the Renovation

14. Summary WE SUSTAIN MAINE is an innovation that will radically transform how senior nutrition is provided in central Maine by incorporating food products from Maine’s own local farmers to create a sustainable and economically viable alliance. Seniors of Central Maine who depend on “Meals On Wheels” can count on Spectrum Generations--- just as they have for 40 years!

15. Tips to Develop Your Own WSM • Create a marketable name – {Farm Fresh from Florida –Cultivated in Colorado}. • Determine what it would take to bring your kitchen to a year round production area and maintain cooler and freezer space. {$400,000} etc. • Reach out to state wide agricultural leaders and network • Create a written fundraising plan • Write grants – include the many benefits • Attend agricultural trade show and/or farm day events

16. More Tips . . . • Meet with your food purveyor {Sysco/USA Foods}. • Reach out to local farmers. You can buy direct but remember some state HACCP rules and or liability may prevent that. • Collaborate with local schools/colleges/hospitals. • Create a marketing campaign. • Use social media for updates. • In summary, collaborate, connect, market and fundraise!

17. Thank You ! Presented by Gerard Queally{CEO} & Denver Brown For more information contact: Denver Brown • Spectrum Generations • Nutrition Administrator • 207-623-0764 Ext. 117 • TTY 1.800.464.8703 • dbrown@spectrumgenerations.org • www.spectrumgenerations.org