Bay View Collection’s Hospitality for AIO raises $1000
Matthew Levin, Director of Hotels for the Bay View Collection, presented a check today to Molly O’Rourke, Weekend Meal Program Manager for AIO Food Pantry. The donation of $1000.00 is in support of the organization’s Weekend Meal Program, an initiative that supports the kids of Knox County by providing healthy, nourishing food on the weekends. For many families in Knox there is a food gap on the weekend when their child doesn’t have access to school lunch. Through AIO’s partnership with 16 local schools, they deliver fun meal kits to students on Fridays during the school year.
The donation was a result of Grand Harbor Inn’s ongoing “Hospitality For AIO” campaign. Guests who choose to participate receive a 50% discount off their two or more-night stay, and in exchange for this significantly discounted room rate, guests make a minimum donation of $35/night to AIO Food Pantry. This offer began in mid-October of last year and continues through April 30th, 2021.
Hospitality for AIO is just one of several giving campaigns that the Bay View Collection is offering this winter spring. At 16 Bay View they are offering a similar discount to guests in support of LifeFlight of Maine, and at Lord Camden Inn, they are supporting Habitat for Humanity with their “Hospitality for Habitat” special offer.
“I was quite surprised to see how much money we were able to generate in a relatively short period of time with our Hospitality for AIO program,” says Matthew Levin. Matthew further said, “With the devastating impacts of COVID to the hospitality industry last year and the first quarter of this year, my heart was warmed by the kind and giving nature of those that were willing and able to visit Camden and participate in this campaign for such a great cause. We expect additional funds to be generated this spring as travel begins to pickup, which fortunately we are already starting to see.”
"We're so grateful to the Bayview Collection and their guests for raising awareness and funds for the Weekend Meal Program. This program runs on community support, so when businesses team up with community members it really doubles the impact! This donation will help us continue to send healthy, fun, kid-friendly foods home each week to our nearly 300 enrolled students," said O’Rourke.
AIO’s vision is to have a hunger-free community and is committed to ensuring that no one in their community goes hungry or is cold in their home. AIO is working to address food and energy insecurity in Knox County. Working hand-in-hand with partner organizations, AIO strives to provide the services that are vital to a family’s health and well-being. AIO’s two core programs—Food Assistance and Energy Assistance—ensure that Knox County residents who are food or energy insecure receive the support they need. AIO’s Food Assistance programs include the Food Pantry and the Weekend Meal Program (formerly known as Backpack), which ensure access to food for children and families when they need it. For more information, visit https://www.aiofoodpantry.org.
The Bay View Collection is a small group of distinctive, luxury boutique hotels located in Camden and soon Rockport, Maine whose properties include the Lord Camden Inn, Grand Harbor Inn, 16 Bay View, and the all-new Rockport Harbor Hotel, opening summer of 2022. For more information on these unique and luxurious destinations, visit https://www.bayviewcollection.com.