PORTLAND (WGME) — Summer is an especially difficult time of year for Mainers struggling to feed their families.

Maine is the 7th hungriest state in the country and the hungriest in New England.

Often, families have to come up with more meals for kids that aren’t getting meals at school. And typically, donations are down at area food banks.
The New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland is wrapping up a three-week food drive for the Preble Street food pantry, which provides groceries to more than 150 families every week.
"It feels great to know that we can help. The staff here have always been supportive of these kids of programs. They’re always willing to help. It’s what they do every day with their patients and anything they do to help the community out as well to reach out into the community and help makes them feel terrific," says Scott Peterson, New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland.

The hospital staff gathered hundreds of food items for the drive.

Preble Street currently serves 1,200 hot meals each day.