VOLUNTEER & FOOD SERVICES When most people think about Preble Street, they think of the soup kitchen. And it´s no wonder. The Preble Street Resource Center dining room and kitchen are the hub of services for over 5,000 individuals and families in Greater Portland who are homeless and living in poverty. Three times a day, seven days a week lines of people wrap around the Resource Center building where Preble Street and its partners, Wayside Soup Kitchen and St. Luke´s Soup Kitchen, serve 330,000 nutritious meals to homeless and low-income adults, families, and young people each year. These programs are the largest food service programs in northern New England and are vital not only to people who are homeless but also to those who are struggling to stretch their budgets to meet expenses - rent, childcare, transportation, medicine, etc. that far outstrip their incomes. Food is prepared and served by hundreds of volunteers who come on their own or with groups from the faith community, area businesses, schools, and civic groups (check out How You Can Help!). Breakfast Program 75,000 breakfast meals are served annually to youth, adults, and families. In addition 8,000 bag lunches are prepared for the working poor who are unable to return to Preble Street midday. Clothing Closet $175,000 worth of free clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, back packs, and personal hygiene items - toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shampoo, etc. - are distributed each year to people who must depend on Preble Street for the basic necessities. Food Pantry 132,000 grocery meals are distributed each year. Once a week food donations are gathered and distributed to individuals and families, many representing Portland´s growing refugee and immigrant communities. Teen Meals 12,900 lunch and dinner meals are prepared and served daily (365 days a year) for 40-60 youth at the Teen Center.