Attention SNAP Recipients!
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Maine Hunger Initiative
Mainers facing food insecurity to benefit from boost in federal SNAP benefits
Preble Street applauds the Biden administration’s recent boost to SNAP. #SNAPworks “Tens of thousands of Mainers were experiencing food insecurity before coronavirus struck. Advocates said in the past year, the pandemic has made the situation worse. ‘Preble Street has nearly doubled the amount of meals we are providing through our emergency food programs, … Read more
Maine advocates urge Congress to increase SNAP benefits
Food insecurity is a growing national problem amid the pandemic. Pantries are stretched thin — and money is tight in many communities. Advocates from across the country are urging Congress to increase SNAP benefits. They all want the next pandemic relief bill to include a boost for the program – and they’re urging congress not … Read more
A strong safety net is one way we can honor our veterans’ sacrifices
“Yes, thoughts and prayers are appreciated, but to truly honor our veterans, we need to move beyond platitudes. Our nation must commit to providing reliable safety net programs for the many veterans who struggle with poverty and hunger when they return home.” – Tim Keefe, advocate and veteran Read more…
New research released on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
New research was released today on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to better understand the effects the program has on Mainers. Two organizations, Maine Equal Justice Partners and Preble Street, partnered to survey families around the state. The report written by a University of Maine Professor found 62-percent of respondents said they would … Read more
Cutting programs to help the poor doesn’t eliminate poverty
The LePage administration likes to tout how it has reduced the number of people who receive social services in Maine. If fewer people get government help, the thinking goes, the problems that caused their need for help also have been magically eliminated. Data show this isn’t true. Take hunger. A new report from the U.S. Department … Read more
Feeding Rural Kids Still Challenging, Even As Maine Expands Summer Meal Program
Nearly half of all kids in Maine qualify for free and reduced-price lunch at school. During the summer months, when school is out, there haven’t been a lot of options for those families – but that’s starting to change. In the past ten years, the number of summer meal sites in the state has more … Read more
Rainout of Taste of the Nation fundraiser costly to Maine anti-hunger programs
… At Portland’s Preble Street Teen Center, the event typically has raised $11,000 to $19,000 for meals, said Elena Schmidt, chief development officer for Preble Street. The total budget for the teen center’s soup kitchen is about $97,000, she said … Read more.
Society Notebook: Strength against hunger
A record-breaking 400 people enjoyed an afternoon and evening of fancy sips and bites at Taste of the Nation at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. The annual fundraiser for Share Our Strength, with tickets priced at $125 for general admission and $200 for VIP, including a cocktail reception, raised more than $200,000 toward the … Read more
Nutrition is focus of kids’ Summer Food Program
WESTBROOK – While the school year may be winding down, efforts to prepare for this year’s Summer Food Program are ramping up, as Westbrook officials and volunteers work to keep food, nutrition and physical activity on students’ plates. The program, which is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides free lunch for children … Read more
