By Kate Bennett

Did you know that Maine has been taking steps to end hunger? It has. According to Preble Street, a Portland-based nonprofit that provides food and housing services, “1 in 6 or 215,000 Mainers experience food insecurity every year,” and “1 in 4 children live in food insecure homes.” Feeding America, a national nonprofit, reports that Maine’s food-insecurity rate of 14.8 percent is higher than the national average food-insecurity rate of 13.4 percent. According to Preble Street, “Maine ranks 3rd in the nation, and 1st in New England, for very low food security.” But some solutions to the hunger issue are being implemented in Maine.

SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and is often called food stamps. SNAP is also known as the Food Supplement Program in Maine, and it is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making it a federal nutrition program. SNAP creates a way for people with limited income and resources to get food. SNAP allows people to purchase food from grocery stores, which takes people one step closer to financial independence and cuts back the number of people relying on food pantries. Moving people from relying on food pantries to SNAP makes more food available in the food pantries for other people.

However, SNAP is currently facing budget cuts. Earlier this month, a budget resolution passed the House that over $150 billion will be taken away from the $4.1-trillion budget for multiple poverty programs, including SNAP. This means that smaller amounts of supplemental money (money used on groceries) are going to be issued to people and families in need of food.

The Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative, or MHI, explains that they have been working to train and place SNAP Outreach volunteers in food pantries throughout the state. They also explain that they have been working to educate those participating in SNAP and those interested about any changes that may occur to the program and how to get involved.

The amount of food being given to food pantries had been decreasing, while the rate of hunger has grown. This has resulted in food pantries not having enough food to give to people, and some even having to turn people away. In 2008, Preble Street reacted to this by forming the Maine Hunger Initiative. The three main goals of the Maine Hunger Initiative are to “1) meet immediate food needs, 2) offset food supply shortages, and 3) develop long-term solutions to hunger.” They have been helping and encouraging more food pantries to open in Maine. Preble Street reports that in 1997, only 3 food pantries were open in Southern Maine, but today there are 80 food pantries in the region.

Preble Street’s mission statement is, “to provide accessible barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to these problems.” Their food programs include a food pantry and soup kitchen that provide food to meet the basic needs of people who are struggling to get food. Both food programs are located in Portland. More information can be found on their website at http://www.preblestreet.org or by calling 207-775-0026.

The SMCC South Portland Campus has its own food pantry for students, the Captain’s Cupboard. If you are a SMCC student in need of food, this is an easy place to look. The Captain’s Cupboard is located in the Captain’s House. It is open Monday 2-6 p.m., Tuesday 12:30-6 p.m., Wednesday 9-11 a.m., Thursday 12:30-6 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

If you are interested in volunteering to help end hunger in Maine, you can look into volunteering at the Captain’s Cupboard, Preble Street, or at a local food pantry or other organization.