NEWS & UPDATES
Portland's panhandling restriction may beg bigger question
PORTLAND – Shane Boilard spends a few hours a day, a few days each week, panhandling on the streets of Maine’s largest city, usually on traffic medians at major intersections leading into the downtown area [click to continue reading on the Portland Press Herald website].
Portland outlaws panhandling in medians
PORTLAND – In 30 days, it will be illegal for anyone to loiter in the city’s street medians for any reason, including panhandling. Supporters of the ordinance said it is needed to protect public safety — both for panhandlers and the traveling public. Panhandlers sometimes walk into the street and almost get hit by cars,
Shifting perceptions of prostitution
Victims of sex trafficking in Maine might call themselves prostitutes. Their pimps and those buying their sex might call them prostitutes. But if they are not prostituting themselves by choice, they are victims. Their pimps, who control their behavior, often with violence, threats and drugs, are the criminals. On Thursday, Gov. Paul LePage held a
Preble Street gets big grant to help veterans
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – Preble Street, the agency that helps the homeless in Portland, has received its largest grant ever. The $1.7 million will go towards expanding its programs that help homeless veterans. It is estimated that there are 1,000 homeless people in Maine who have served in the military. “What we’re going to
Our View: LePage should back bill to close student food gap
A federal program aimed at filling this gap is gaining ground in Maine. For the first time since it was launched in the 1970s, the Summer Food Service Program is providing free meals in every county in the state. The Maine Department of Education, which oversees the program here, enabled this expansion by stepping up
Preble Street to expand veterans services
Preble Street Resource Center, which has been helping low-income residents at its Portland location since the 1970s, landed a $1.7 million U.S. Veterans Affairs grant Thursday to expand its program for homeless veterans from Portland to the entire state. Mark Swann, Preble Street’s executive director, said the federal grant will help the group serve about
Feeding Maine's hungry kids: summer meal programs expand
For the first time ever, every county in Maine has free summer meal sites for kids. It’s a feat that’s taken decades to achieve, since the federal Summer Food Service Program began in the late 60s. But even in 2013, advocates say, lack of awareness is the biggest barrier between hungry kids and free summer
Maine's summer food service program participation
STATEWIDE (WGME) — One in four Maine children doesn’t know when, or if, they’ll eat on any given day. There’s millions of federal dollars available to help feed food insecure kids, but Maine has left about 90 percent of that funding on the table. Officials are trying increase participation in the summer food service program.
Homeless Awareness Event On The First Day Of Summer In Portland
PORTLAND (WGME) — The sun was up for about 15 and a half hours Friday, the longest day of the year, and some folks in Portland are using every minute of daylight to raise awareness about homelessness in the city. It’s the Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice annual Summer Solstice sit-out. The event portrays
Preble Street's role in ending hunger expanding throughout Maine
MECHANIC FALLS – The RSU 16 Summer Meals program held its first meal at Elm Street School on Friday with an 8 a.m. pancake breakfast and a barbecued chicken lunch – plus some fun and games. "We just wanted to let people know we’re here and to learn more about what we do," said Betty
Portland Food Drive Wrapping Up
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
Portland Food Pantry gets much needed donation
For nearly a month, New England Rehab has been collecting non-perishable food items for the Preble Street Food Pantry in Portland. Monday, they delivered the last of those items to the pantry — which feeds about 150 families per week in the community. Besides being a place to pick up free groceries for struggling families…
