NEWS & UPDATES
Hundreds gather in Portland for homeless vigil
PORTLAND (WGME) — Homeless advocates are saying more homeless people have died this year in Portland than any other year in recent history. Hundreds of people gathered in Monument Square Dec. 21 to mark those lives lost. This vigil is held every year on this night because it’s the longest night of the year. This
Portland holds vigil for homeless who've died
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — People in Portland gathered Monday night to remember members of the city’s homeless community who died in 2015. Forty three people passed away. That number includes people who were homeless when they died, and others who were recently homeless in the Greater Portland area. A large group of homeless people,
‘Hunger is all around us’
Holidays in America are centered around food. While many dream for weeks of sugarplums, ham and the perfect table settings, approximately 48 million more are thinking of food in a different light: Will there be enough to go around? Of those people, 208,000 live here in Maine, which ranks 12th in the nation and first
Shaw’s mysteriously ends longtime donation program at critical time for food bank
The Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick is looking to replace 100,000 pounds of dairy products, meat and produce it received annually from the nearby Shaw’s after the supermarket chain recently told the food pantry and soup kitchen that it had stopped its donations program. Karen Parker, director of Mid Coast Hunger Prevention, confirmed
Advocates for homeless march for expanded health care
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Advocates for the homeless and low income people throughout the state, marched through the streets of Portland to draw attention to the plight of Mainers without health care. They gathered outside the Preble Street Resource Center and made their way up the city’s streets to Congress Square Park. Once there
In Portland, shopping small, to big effect on Small Business Saturday
… In the Portland Downtown District, it was also Shop for a Cause Day to help raise money for Preble Street, which provides services to the homeless and needy. More than three dozen shops pledged part of their Saturday proceeds to Preble Street … Read more.
Bus keeps food banks stuffed in area communities
SCARBOROUGH — School buses can be seen every weekday bringing South Portland students to and from school and after-school activities, but one bus making its rounds Monday was visiting area schools for a very different purpose. On Monday, Nov. 23, a bus from Custom Coach of Portland traveled to schools in Portland, Scarborough and South
Stuff the Bus food drive delivers to Preble Street
As we mentioned yesterday, radio station Rewind 100.9 was “stuffing the bus” to help feed hungry Mainers, and today they un-stuffed that bus. Dozens of community volunteers, including Senator Angus King, came out to unload the bus filled with several tons of food items, all going to the Preble Street soup kitchen and pantry. Preble
"Shop for a Cause" Day draws shoppers to Portland
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Hundreds shopped in Portland Saturday to support local businesses in “Small Business Saturday.” 41 different businesses participated in “Shop for a Cause” day, which coincided with “Small Business Saturday.” Businesses donated a portion of the day’s profits to the Preble Street Resource Center. “It’s nice to explore some of these
DHHS seeks waiver to ban soda and candy food stamp purchases
AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – Maine’s commissioner of Health and Human Services is calling on the federal government for a waiver, allowing the state to prevent food stamps from being used to purchase soda and candy. Commissioner Mary Mayhew says the new policy would improve the health of low income Mainers while strengthening the integrity
A Place to Call Home: Part One
For most people who use Maine’s shelters, homelessness is temporary. But there are others who need more support– the chronically homeless. A decade ago, the State of Utah made a commitment to eliminate chronic homelessness. And what’s being done there is inspiring people here in Maine and across the country. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox (R-Utah)
A Place to Call Home: Part Two
This is Part Two of a series on Housing First. In Part One, WCSH traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, to learn more about that city’s acclaimed Housing First programs out there. Preble Street has been running Housing First programs in Portland for more than a decade. What kind of commitment from Maine’s leaders will it take to expand
