AUBURN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- After the peak of Thanksgiving and Christmas, now is the time of the year when the Good Shepherd Food Bank sees a decline in donations.
After an extra large delivery Wednesday morning, the food bank has a large quantity of high quality protein, just in time for Easter.
Turner farm Moark LLC, a Land O' Lakes egg subsidiary, has donated 180,000 eggs, or 15,000 dozen, to the Auburn food bank.
The donation would mean about $15,000 for the company, according to Moark Eastern Division General Manager Skip Hagy -- but he says donating them means more.
"It's the right thing to do," said Hagy. "We're located in Maine, and we like to be a good neighbor."
Good Shepherd distributes food to 600 nonprofit partner agencies across the state.
According to the food bank's President, Kristen Miale, eggs are one of the most difficult kinds of foods to obtain.
She said Good Shepherd is always in need of high protein, nutrient-dense foods, and eggs have a longer shelf-life than other kinds of protein, like poultry.
In recent years, the food bank has been focusing on providing more nutritious food to its clients.
In 2009, about one-third of the food banks distribution was produce, dairy, and protein. In 2012, they increased that to 51%.
"What people's challenge is, is getting access to healthy food, which is often cost prohibitive," said Miale.
"The more that the food bank can provide healthy food, the more we know we are really helping people in need."
NEWS CENTER