UNE’s Parkhurst Dining staff supports Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital with donation of nearly $12,000

The University of New England’s dining service provider, Parkhurst Dining, set out to raise $10,000 last fall for Maine's only full-service children's hospital through a fund-raising campaign that culminated in a holiday lunch served on UNE”s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences. 

In the end, UNE’s Parkhurst dining team raised $11,841 — more than doubling their fund-raising effort last year — for the Caring for Kids campaign that helps pediatric patients and families at The MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center.

Parkhurst Dining, a contract food service provider that services colleges, universities, and corporations, holds the company-wide Caring for Kids Challenge each year to support children’s hospitals in local communities. 

On Feb. 6, the Parkhurst staff presented a check for nearly $12,000 to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at a luncheon the UNE dining team served to children and their families to celebrate their fundraising effort. The meal of tomato soup and grilled cheese was served to hospital staff, as well, to highlight the partnership the UNE dining staff share with the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, said Kayla Maniery, director of catering at Parkhurst Dining at UNE.

“Caring for Kids is one of the most meaningful initiatives our UNE and Parkhurst Dining team takes part in each year,” Maniery said. “It brings together our staff and campus community around a shared purpose: supporting children and families here in Maine. Being able to present a donation of nearly $12,000 to the children’s hospital and serve a warm meal to the hospital staff, children, and families is a poignant example of how much community engagement matters to our team.”

In November, Parkhurst Dining’s annual Caring for Kids luncheon on UNE’s Portland Campus raised $3,000 for the children’s hospital — double last year's total. The event that drew students, faculty, professional staff, and members of the surrounding community was held in Arthur P. Girard Innovation Hall and featured a meal donated by over 10 local vendors. Students across health professions, both graduate and undergraduate, volunteered at the event held on New England’s only dedicated interprofessional health education campus. 

Maniery said she’s proud of the community service UNE’s dining staff puts into the holiday luncheon each year as they work side by side with UNE students who volunteer.

“This fundraiser truly reflects the generosity of the UNE community, and it’s wonderful to see so many partners come together to support such an important cause,” Maniery said.