For 50 years, volunteers have been a key part of Preble Street, helping ensure that the agency is able to meet the basic human rights of Mainers. In fact, the agency was staffed solely by student interns and volunteers for its first 10 years! Today, over 1,500 volunteers contribute 20,000 hours of service each year. They join us at our Food Security Hub, Teen Center, and Florence House Women’s Shelter to help us provide more than 1 million meals annually to people experiencing food insecurity. People also donate their time to lead activities for clients, maintain gardens at our sites, and participate in neighborhood clean-ups. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – we truly could not do what we do without our volunteers.
Preble Street has evolved many times since opening in 1975, and our devoted, compassionate volunteers have been there every step of the way, many returning weekly for decades (see Betty’s story). Whether adapting to a new Resource Center in 1993, navigating COVID safety guidelines in 2020, or going with the flow around construction at the Food Security Hub in 2025, Preble Street volunteers bring their love, laughs, and hard work to every shift.
Keep reading
Maine Needs and Preble Street Announce Partnership to Help More Mainers Meet their Basic Needs
Preble Street is excited to announce a new partnership with Maine Needs that will support both organizations’ goal to meet the basic needs of Mainers experiencing homelessness or who have recently moved out of homelessness. As of April 18, 2025, Preble Street will no longer accept individual in-kind, non-food donations. All clothing, hygiene, and household
Food Is a Human Right: Protecting Access to Nutrition in Maine
In honor of National Nutrition Month, we take a look at the emergency food system in Maine. Food pantries and anti-hunger non-profits like Preble Street play an important role in ensuring people experiencing food insecurity have consistent access to healthy and nutritious food. Since opening in 1975, Preble Street has worked to ensure that everyone
Thank you, volunteers!
The dedication, compassion, and hard work of Preble Street volunteers make a profound impact on the lives of those we serve. This year, we’ve had over 1,300 individual volunteers contributing nearly 20,000 volunteer hours. Our volunteers make time in their busy schedules and come out in all kinds of challenging Maine weather to make a positive
