Bangor Livable Communities Committee explores food, connection, volunteering

The Bangor Livable Communities Committee met on Sept. 25, 2026, to continue discussing social inclusion and belonging, focusing on a new statewide nutrition education program called Nourish Me and on ways to boost volunteering and community connection. Members talked about food-is-medicine efforts, community gardens, food pantries, and possible social gatherings, and agreed to discuss housing and outdoor spaces at a future meeting.

Key points

• A Health Department representative described Nourish Me, a statewide food-is-medicine nutrition education program with 12-week classes planned to start in January, and said participants in similar programs reported less isolation and better connection.
• Members discussed the city's CDBG-funded "gaps in care" grant to Penobscot Community Health Care, which lets clients with a documented medical need buy their own food, including through gift cards.
• The group talked about volunteerism trends and how to plug volunteers into existing efforts, citing the United Way, Hearts of Maine, the Christine B. Foundation, and a possible tie-in to Good Neighbor Day.
• Members shared ideas for social connection, including community meals, recipe swaps, conversation benches or swings, and closing part of Broad Street for evening pedestrian use.
• A member noted that a city council candidate had criticized the Pickering Square swing as a waste of money, and suggested committee members post supportive comments online.
• The committee agreed to focus its next discussion on housing, outdoor spaces, and buildings, with planning and zoning updates expected.

Next steps

• The committee plans to discuss housing, outdoor spaces, and buildings at its next meeting.
• A city official said she would return in the winter to seek committee feedback on universal design and complete streets initiatives.
• Members said they would keep in mind reaching people who are socially isolated, including solo agers, as the nutrition and connection programs develop.

Read the full transcript The agenda