Homemade Whipped Cream, Free Ice Cream, and Combating Hunger
Nearly one in four children in Maine experience food insecurity, the highest rate across all six New England states. Children of color and children living in rural counties are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. That is why from 9 am to 4 pm on October 2nd, 2021, Hood will sponsor a Feeding Maine Families Day event at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine’s Gather Lawn. Feeding Maine Families Day will raise awareness about families and children experiencing hunger, highlight initiatives in Maine to combat childhood hunger and promote food equity, and encourage food science education in a playful way.
All visitors to the Museum & Theatre, customers of other businesses on Thompson’s Point, residents of the Libbytown Neighborhood and the greater Portland area, and visitors are encouraged to participate in this free event, from 9 am - 4 pm on October 2, 2021. Hood is celebrating their 175th Anniversary this October, touring Maine and New England to celebrate with the community. Hood Milk comes from local farms, as close as possible to its production plants, so as not to waste any time processing and bottling and to ensure that it stays fresh. Dairy cooperatives procure milk for Hood’s Portland manufacturing facility from Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, and Waldo counties.
Feeding Maine Families Day at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is made possible through a partnership with Maine organizations who are combating food insecurity in the state, including Wayside Food Programs, Preble Street, Westbrook Public Schools Food Services, and The Locker Project. These organizations will have tables on the Gather Lawn, and will be sharing information about their work and resources for anyone experiencing food insecurity.
Thompson’s Point businesses such as Rosemont Market, Rwanda Bean Coffee, Stroudwater Distillery, and Color Me Mine will be generously providing coupons for all those who donate to the community food drive.
The Museum & Theatre is excited to continue strengthening our relationships with these organizations and work together to bring awareness and support to food equity in Maine. Food equity impacts many of our visitors and we are excited to create a platform for raising awareness and bringing Feeding Maine Families Day to Thompson’s Point.
Check out the event activities below:
Community Food Drive: In collaboration with Wayside Food Programs, Hood, and other event partners, The Museum & Theatre will host a food drive encouraging participation of all visitors to Thompson’s Point. The food drive will benefit Wayside’s
Kids’ Healthy Snacks program. We hope to fill the Wayside truck with healthy snacks for kids, such as: granola bars, fruit leathers, juice boxes, and more.
If you donate to the drive you can receive a generous coupon from Rwanda Bean, Rosemont Market, Stroudwater Distillery or Color Me Mine. Every donation makes a difference!
Ice Cream Sandwich Giveaways: Hood will be at the Museum & Theatre between 9am and 4pm to hand out free ice cream sandwiches as part of their 175th anniversary tour. Hood is the generous sponsor of this event.
Food Science Education Station: Museum & Theatre staff will offer a Science of Whipped Cream station (with fruit!) and children and families will learn about healthy fats, learn the science of how cream becomes whipped cream (through a fat molecule movement game), learn how to make a simple low-cost treat, and try their hand at making their own whipped cream.
About HP Hood LLC
Founded in 1846, today Hood is one of the largest food and beverage manufacturers in the United States. For 175 years, the name Hood has been synonymous with fresh, quality products that taste great. Hood’s portfolio of national and super-regional brands and franchise products includes Hood®, Simply Smart® Milk, Heluva Good!®, Planet Oat®, LACTAID®, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®, Hershey’s Milk & Milkshakes, and more. For more information, please visit Hood.com
Hood has been a long time partner of the Museum & Theatre and sponsored the very popular Coco’s Diner exhibit at the previous Free Street location. Currently, Hood sponsors the Lobster Shack exhibit in our Neighborhood, funding dramatic play elements for all Museum & Theatre visitors.
