[A meal] is so comforting. It’s a feeling of home sweet home. There have been times when I’ve been hungry for so long and struggled for so long that I had a hard time digesting food… I know people that have gone without food so long that having a plate of food in front of … Read more
Every food box from the Preble Street Food Pantry tells a unique story. Each item inside a food box can tell you something about the person or family who it’s going to, what they might like to eat, and even possibly something about their heritage and culture. Kale is one vegetable that goes into many of our … Read more
During the school year, more than 20 million children in the U.S. rely on school lunches for daily meals. School breakfast and lunch programs are an important tool to address food insecurity among school age children in the U.S. However, when school is out of session, children can no longer access these daily meals, leading … Read more
Preble Street has many rewarding and fun volunteer opportunities that are great for individuals, families, and even groups! Whether chopping veggies and helping to prepare meals at Preble Street’s Food Security Hub or organizing donations at the Receiving Center, there is a way for everyone to get involved and make a direct impact in the … Read more
Food insecurity is a critical issue facing Maine. According to Feeding America, Maine has a higher-than-average food insecurity rate of 12.3%. The national average is 10.5%. One‐in-eight Maine people and one‐in‐five Maine children are hungry or at risk for hunger. Maine’s Roadmap to End Hunger initiative estimates the total number of people experiencing food insecurity … Read more
Three Preble Street programs celebrated their first year of operation in 2023! Elena’s Way, a Preble Street Wellness Shelter Elena’s Way serves the needs of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, individuals unable to access other shelter services, and individuals who are extremely vulnerable should they be unsheltered. At Elena’s Way, guests have control of their own … Read more
“All in all, it’s been wonderful,” says Chris Milligan, Preble Street Foodservice Operations Manager, about operating the kitchen at the City of Portland’s new Homeless Services Center (HSC). “We’ve gone through some trial and error as we settle into this new space, and we’re at a point where things are running pretty smoothly. Once we … Read more
UPDATE: On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, Governor Janet Mills signed into law a historic budget package, which contains funding for the Food Security Hub, emergency shelter funding, funding for affordable housing, and Site-based Housing First! So many people who are part of Preble Street played a role in securing these legislative wins – it took … Read more
It’s no exaggeration to say that Preble Street’s pandemic-era transition to a production and delivery model of food service would not have been possible without the community members who have offered their time, energy, and even their vehicles to ensure that meals prepared at the Food Security Hub make it into the hands of the … Read more
Food insecurity and hunger continue to grow in Maine; the pandemic and rising food costs are driving more people to their local food bank or pantry. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Preble Street has produced and distributed more food than ever before – over one million meals a year – and increased output by … Read more
