NEWS & UPDATES
Businesses helping feed the homeless
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — More than two dozen businesses, churches and schools are answering the call to help feed the homeless while Portland’s largest soup kitchen is temporarily closed. Employees at Verrill Dana spent their lunch break making sandwiches — a lot of sandwiches. 24-hundred pieces of bread and 12-hundred slices of luncheon meat
Preble Street Resource Center undergoes renovations
Renovations are underway at the Preble Street Resource Center in Portland and the community is helping out. Click here to see WMTW News 8’s report by Aly Myles.
Maine restaurants join Share Our Strength anti-hunger effort
September is Dine Out for No Kid Hungry month, and dozens of restaurants in Maine are participating in this national fundraising effort by Share Our Strength to help end childhood hunger. Here in Maine, one in five children is "food insecure," meaning they may not know where their next meal is coming from. Or, they
Unsung Heroes: The Sawyers of Cumberland, Preble Street Sunday stalwarts
CUMBERLAND – In January 2012, the four members of the Sawyer family made a collective New Year’s resolution that was not of the exercise more/eat better/lose weight variety. They decided to do something together on a regular basis as a family, to help others. So they contacted Preble Street in Portland and were soon put
Portland working hard to combat homelessness, but changes to MaineCare could make problem worse anyway
PORTLAND, Maine – The city has been touting its recent efforts to combat homelessness, but some say the problem remains serious and is about to get worse. In November, the City Council adopted the recommendations of a task force it appointed to come up with ideas for reducing and preventing homelessness. The recommendations included centralizing
On the Move
AWARDS Portland Housing Authority was recognized with Preble Street’s Community Partner Award. Jennie Soares, Preble Street’s resource center supervisor, was recognized with its Joseph D. Kreisler Community Impact Award. Also recognized was Bob Harradon of Yarmouth, a longtime volunteer at Preble Street Soup Kitchens, who received the volunteer of the year award. BOARD APPOINTMENTS Preble
Portland cites progress on homelessness
PORTLAND – Portland is making measurable progress on its effort to bolster support systems for the chronically homeless and place them more quickly in permanent housing, Mayor Michael Brennan said Thursday [click to continue reading on the Portland Press Herald website].
Summer Meals in the state of Maine
For many kids, summer vacation is a time to relax – spend some time with their friends, head off to summer camp, or take a road trip with their family. But for too many Maine families, the summer months can be difficult. When school is out, kids no longer have access to school breakfast and
Portland officials outline progress made in housing homeless
On the same day that a ban on panhandling in medians went into effect in Portland, city leaders and organizations that work with the homeless held a press conference applauding the progress they’ve made in providing housing for those living on the streets. As Patty Wight reports, city officials say there’s been a 30 percent
Hunger doesn't end with the school year
Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative VISTA Heather Zimmerman discusses the importance of summer meals for school children who rely on free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch during the school year.
More than 15,000 to lose Medicaid coverage in January
AUGUSTA – Many states are gearing up to enroll more residents into Medicaid coverage starting in January. But thousands of Mainers are preparing to lose coverage this winter because of changes to the state’s program and the decision not to expand coverage under the federal health care overhaul. More than 15,000 low-income parents are expected
Rep. Michael Michaud, Mark Swann: Putting an end to children's hunger in Maine
There are 150 fewer children in Oxford County who are hungry this summer. Those children now eat a nutritious lunch with fruit, sandwich and milk, thanks to five new federal Summer Food Service meal sites opened by the Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative, with community support from RSU 16 food services, local businesses and volunteers.
