Food insecurity

Maine

Maine food pantries see families feeling the pinch of federal cuts, rising prices

Kaitlyn Budion

When it comes to seeing the effects of rising prices for goods and services food pantries are on the front lines. Nowhere is that more evident than in rural Washington County where the rate of food insecurity is the highest in New England.

Footprints food pantry workers sort produce.

Business and Economy

4 in every 10 Maine families are financially insecure, a new service in Kittery is trying to help

Carol Bousquet

Mainspring, a new social service collective in Kittery, has a growing clientele. With federal cuts looming, advocates are sounding the alarm.

Donated food in the kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland.

Maine

Food insecurity jumps in Maine, according to national anti-hunger group

Ari Snider

A snapshot survey from Hunger Free America found food insecurity is up nearly 50% since 2021.

Jaqueline Benitez, who depends on California's SNAP benefits to help pay for food, shops for groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2023.

Health

Advocates working to end child food insecurity in Maine preparing to defend federal welfare programs

Carol Bousquet

President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly said he would reduce the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, as well as other benefits.

Maine

USDA data finds drop in food insecurity, but Maine groups say it's an incomplete picture

Ari Snider

The share of Maine households experiencing food insecurity has fallen over the last decade, but food banks say demand is once again on the rise.

Volunteers Joe O'Connor, left, Eric Leuck, center and Linda Nordin load food items into a box at the Northern Illinois Food Bank to be delivered by DoorDash drivers for area residents who are homebound Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Park City, Ill. Previously, the pantry's express program was not available to its homebound clients because someone had to physically go to a collection point to pick up the food. But with DoorDash's technology, now homebound clients can go to the My Pantry Express website and pick from the available food.

Business and Economy

Amid rising food costs, Preble Street and DoorDash are delivering fresh food to Mainers

Carol Bousquet

The Preble Street Food Security Hub has teamed up with food delivery service DoorDash to bring customized food boxes to hungry residents in the greater Portland area.

Dixie Shaw, the director of hunger and relief services for Catholic Charities Maine, runs a food bank, several thrift stores and a farm in Aroostook County.

Business and Economy

With rising food and fuel prices, feeding the hungry in Aroostook County is getting harder

Nicole Ogrysko

Delivering food around Maine's largest county, where one-quarter of the population is 65 and older, has become a lot more challenging and expensive, community groups say.

Maine

Food Insecurity: More Mainers Go Hungry During the Pandemic & Communities Try To Help

Cindy Han

Since the pandemic began, and job losses have continued to mount, the numbers of those dealing with food insecurity in Maine has risen by 25 percent—and…

Business and Economy

Program That Provides Food To School-Age Children Could End Soon If Congress Doesn't Extend It

Nora Flaherty

A program designed to help school-age children access food during school closures caused by the pandemic is set to expire at the end of September if…

Business and Economy

Report Finds That 182,000 Mainers Would Be Affected By Cuts To Supplemental Unemployment Benefits

Nora Flaherty

The newest COVID-19 stimulus plan that Senate Republicans released Monday would cut supplemental unemployment benefits from $600 to $200 a week. That…