About 12.5% of Maine’s residents use the assistance program previously known as food stamps, which is already facing historic cuts included in the Republican budget bill passed over the summer.
food insecurity
Gleaning the farm field leftovers that food pantries depend on
Volunteers harvest thousands of pounds of produce that would otherwise be left to rot.
For many older Mainers, covering costs in retirement is a major challenge
Experts say there is a clear divide between people who can afford to live comfortably in retirement — and those whose tight budgets make it difficult to pay for basic needs like food and housing.
Maine’s food pantries are stretched thin. Here’s how to help them.
Programs across the state are already serving more people than ever, and the need is expected to grow further as food assistance benefit cuts take effect.
Thousands of Mainers face loss of SNAP benefits as program undergoes historic cuts
The changes will put more pressure on food pantries, which are already seeing a rise in need and warning that they won’t be able to fill the gap.
A longtime federal hunger survey is ending. Why that matters to Maine
The Trump administration’s decision to stop the Annual Household Food Security survey comes amid a funding cut to the food stamp program.
SNAP cuts could impact Maine’s free lunch for students in the long term
School districts will continue to offer lunches at no cost, but changes in eligibility for food assistance could result in less federal funding in the future.
Classes that teach Maine’s food insecure how to cook are under grave threat
Federal funding for the classes was eliminated by Congress. To keep these classes going, Mainers will need to ‘Put a little more grit into the game.’
Trump’s tax, spending law will slash food assistance for thousands of Mainers
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will force Maine to cover tens of millions in costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — costs that Gov. Janet Mills says the state ‘simply cannot absorb.’
Federal cuts leave Maine food pantries with empty shelves and more need than ever
Overcoming federal cuts in food assistance will be a challenge for food pantries, and could be an insurmountable task for smaller organizations that serve especially vulnerable populations, hunger prevention advocates say.