Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell helped break ground Wednesday on a capital campaign to raise $75,000 toward an expansion of the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention facility in Brunswick.

In a statement posted on the organization’s website, Executive Director Karen Parker said they’ve raised more than $425,000 toward the goal of $500,000. Wednesday’s event at the food pantry on Union Street in Brunswick kicked off the public phase of the campaign.

“Since 2003 we have seen an 80 percent increase in the number of visits to our Food Pantry and a 40 percent increase in the number of meals served in our soup kitchen,” Parker said. “In order to continue feeding more hungry people we will be starting a construction project which will add 40 percent more square footage to our space.”

Parker said the expansion will provide the organization with more food storage space, a client waiting room and office space.

“Whatever one’s view of the world, of politics or otherwise, we all share a common humanity, and as Americans, a common pride in our society,” Mitchell said in a statement. “A society which I believe cannot and will not leave anyone, especially children, hungry.”

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