In honor of National Nutrition Month, we take a look at the emergency food system in Maine.
Food pantries and anti-hunger non-profits like Preble Street play an important role in ensuring people experiencing food insecurity have consistent access to healthy and nutritious food. Since opening in 1975, Preble Street has worked to ensure that everyone in our community has enough to eat. Our food programs are a critical part of our services. When basic needs like food and shelter are met, people are better able to focus on working toward other goals, including employment, permanent housing, and health.
Countless staff and volunteers have had a hand in feeding our neighbors over the years, and we are filled with gratitude for them. Since beginning work to renovate and expand the Food Security Hub a few years ago, we have provided over one million nutritious and hearty meals each year to our fellow Mainers. When renovations are complete, we have the capacity to expand to meet the growing need. But we cannot end hunger in Maine alone.
As an agency providing emergency food services, we fill in the gaps left by federal and state agencies. Currently, more than 180,000 people are struggling with food insecurity in Maine. Meanwhile, rising inflation, the housing crisis, and cuts to the social safety net mean this number will continue to grow unless we invest in solutions today.
Take action today
Together we can ensure our neighbors are fed. Here’s how you can help:
- Write to Maine’s U.S. Senate delegation. The Senate is set to vote on a budget resolution in late March that will impose work restrictions on SNAP. Tell Senators Angus King and Susan Collins Maine cannot afford to limit SNAP.
- Sign-up for our advocacy alerts, so you can stay informed and know when to testify or write to your local representative. Preble Street is supporting and testifying on multiple bills that will support local food systems, SNAP, and increase food security in Maine.
- Volunteer at the Preble Street Food Security Hub. You can chop veggies, stock pantry shelves, assemble breakfast sandwiches, and more to make a direct impact in the lives of vulnerable people.
- Donate funds or food to Preble Street. We rely on the generosity of our community to help us fight hunger and homelessness.
FEDERAL CUTS IMPACTING LOCAL FARMERS AND FOOD INSECURE MAINERS
Earlier this month, the USDA announced the termination of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA). These programs distribute 100% American-grown foods to food pantries and soup kitchens and purchase produce from local farmers for distribution to underserved communities.
The loss of these programs harms children, schools, farmers, and organizations like Preble Street and the people we serve. These two programs combined help Preble Street provide roughly 90,000 of its meals each year, about $100,000 of food. Other impacts include:
- 20% of the food that Good Shepherd Food Bank distributes in Maine came from TEFAP and LFPA.
- Cultivating Community, New Roots Cooperative Farm, and Somali Bantu Community Association’s Liberation Farms will lose $225,000 that helped more than 50 immigrant and refugee farmers build livelihoods and food sovereignty. Learn more.
- Thousands of new immigrant families who benefited from LFPA won’t have access to culturally familiar vegetables like amaranth greens, flint corn, roselle, and moroho.
- ~140,000 lbs of local fresh vegetables will no longer be delivered directly to low-income neighbors.
SNAP UNDER ATTACK
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is the largest food assistance program in the United States. In Maine alone, over 170,000 individuals and families receive SNAP benefits to help them put food on the table.
SNAP is a proven, cost-effective program that delivers a host of benefits to its recipients and local communities. It directly reduces food insecurity while supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, like children, older adults, Veterans, and people with disabilities. Access to nutritious food reduces healthcare costs and leads to improved educational outcomes for children.
People who receive SNAP put the money right back into the local economy, supporting farmers and grocery stores, and generating valuable tax revenue. In 2023, SNAP delivered a monthly average of roughly $21,000,000 to Maine. Strengthening SNAP means strengthening Maine’s people and economy.
Despite its undeniable benefits, SNAP faces cuts and restrictions at both the federal level and state levels. Congress wants to impose work restrictions that will increase red tape and make administering benefits more bureaucratic, resulting in eligible people losing food assistance and more people going hungry. In Maine, elected officials are considering proposals that will kick food-insecure New Mainers and immigrants off SNAP. Cuts to SNAP mean thousands of Maine children, older adults, people with disabilities, Veterans, and others go hungry.
Food is a basic need and a human right. Adults cannot work productively without food. Children cannot do well in school on empty stomachs. No one should have to choose between buying food or paying their household bills. If we want to end homelessness and hunger, we must invest in solutions that work. Solutions like SNAP!
Read more
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