Something will happen again, whether it be a natural disaster or global pandemic. When it does happen, Preble Street will be there to work with partners and support our community.
During the pandemic, Preble Street, like many other organizations, had to suspend its soup kitchen operations for the safety of staff and clients; but, to continue serving vulnerable, food insecure people and meet increased demand for emergency food services, in 2021 Preble Street launched its Food Security Hub (FSH): a centralized production kitchen supporting food insecure individuals and families throughout Southern Maine with prepared meals.
Today, the Food Security Hub produces almost 2,000 meals daily, reaching roughly 10,000 people every year, but the FSH is still not complete. The Food Security Hub is undergoing final renovations to increase Preble Street’s impact and capacity for food insecure individuals and families across the state. These updates come at a critical time. Food insecurity is still a major problem for Maine: 13.1 percent of people in Maine (that’s nearly 200,000 or 1 in 8 individuals) experience food insecurity and ongoing attacks and proposed cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) at both the federal and state level threaten to make this situation even worse.
One key update to the Food Security Hub that will deliver impacts for people across Maine is the expansion of its freezer and refrigerator capacity, allowing for larger donations, increasing access to locally grown produce, and supporting Maine’s emergency readiness.
Danielle (Dani) Walczak is the Head Chef at the Food Security Hub. She says, “the increased cold storage will have a whole host of benefits… we’ll be able to accept larger donations as well as freeze and store more local produce.” Accepting larger donations will help to strengthen partnerships with local organizations, farmers, and lead to more meals.
In fact, once renovations at the Food Security Hub are completed, the kitchen will be able to produce up to 10,000 meals every day and store up to 50,000 frozen, prepared meals in the new cold storage space. The additional space will also have the added benefit of storing and utilizing more local produce, diverting it from landfills and the compost bin.
This ability to store up to 50,000 frozen, prepared meals will also crucially bolster Maine’s emergency preparedness. For decades, Preble Street has fed people impacted by emergencies and natural disasters. From the Ice Storm of 1998 to the COVID-19 pandemic has stayed open and supported vulnerable Mainers. The new cold storage increases Preble Street’s capacity to support vulnerable individuals and families in the event of a widespread or even statewide emergency. Preble Street Executive Director, Mark Swann, says, “The earthquake that we all felt earlier this month – what if that had been bigger? When this is done, we will be prepared to ensure that people are getting fed... Something will happen again, whether it be a natural disaster or global pandemic. When it does happen, Preble Street will be there to work with partners and support our community.”
Some of the equipment seen in the new kitchen at the FSH.
Walczak adds that the COVID-19 pandemic showed how important it is to have emergency preparedness plans to support people with food and basic needs during a crisis. She says, “the team here is already so flexible and adaptable to changing needs or priorities. The expanded cold storage space, the new kitchen, the new equipment… it will all help us to be even more prepared in the event of an emergency and responsive to the needs of our community.”
How can I help?
- Volunteer
- Sign-up for a volunteer shift in the kitchen at the Food Security Hub. Preble Street relies on the support of volunteers to provide meals to food insecure individuals in Southern Maine.
- Donate
- Make a contribution to Preble Street! Big or small, every gift helps us reach more vulnerable Mainers and provide essential services and supports to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty.
- Learn more
- Review some of the articles linked below to learn more about the work of Preble Street and educate yourself on the issues.
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