Nearly 170,000 people across the state receive the monthly food assistance benefits.
food insecurity
Northern Franklin County prepares to feed those facing a potential loss of SNAP benefits
From a newly built food pantry at Mt. Abram High School in Salem Township to food drives, individuals and organizations are responding to help their neighbors.
How Mainers are stepping up to help neighbors, food pantries ahead of SNAP funding lapse
Local organizations are trying to bridge the gap for the nearly 170,000 Maine residents who won’t get food stamps in November — and they’re already seeing a swell in much-needed donations and volunteers.
170,000 Mainers won’t get November SNAP benefits. Blame the shutdown.
About 12.5% of Maine’s residents use the assistance program previously known as food stamps, which is already facing historic cuts included in the Republican budget bill passed over the summer.
Gleaning the farm field leftovers that food pantries depend on
Volunteers harvest thousands of pounds of produce that would otherwise be left to rot.
For many older Mainers, covering costs in retirement is a major challenge
Experts say there is a clear divide between people who can afford to live comfortably in retirement — and those whose tight budgets make it difficult to pay for basic needs like food and housing.
Maine’s food pantries are stretched thin. Here’s how to help them.
Programs across the state are already serving more people than ever, and the need is expected to grow further as food assistance benefit cuts take effect.
Thousands of Mainers face loss of SNAP benefits as program undergoes historic cuts
The changes will put more pressure on food pantries, which are already seeing a rise in need and warning that they won’t be able to fill the gap.
A longtime federal hunger survey is ending. Why that matters to Maine
The Trump administration’s decision to stop the Annual Household Food Security survey comes amid a funding cut to the food stamp program.
SNAP cuts could impact Maine’s free lunch for students in the long term
School districts will continue to offer lunches at no cost, but changes in eligibility for food assistance could result in less federal funding in the future.