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About the Food Drive

More than 1 in 10 Maine households goes without nutritious food, making Maine the most food insecure state in New England. Childhood food insecurity rates in our region are even higher: according to Kids Count Data Center, 1 in 6 children in Hancock County live in food insecure households, which can have lifelong impacts on children’s physical health, mental health, and educational outcomes. 

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The Hancock County Food Drive is a collaborative effort that seeks to end food insecurity in our community by ensuring that local food assistance programs are stocked with healthy, nourishing food. The Food Drive is organized by the Hancock County Food Security Network in collaboration with Healthy Acadia, Heart of Maine United Way, Maine Community Foundation, Star 97.7, and UMaine Cooperative Extension.

The 2024 food drive supports the following organizations

FOOD PANTRIES

A food pantry is a local distribution center where community members can receive food. Supplied with food from a food bank (or a food drive!), pantries feed hundreds of people per week.

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A food bank is a larger organization that stores millions of pounds of food that will soon be delivered to local food programs, like a food pantry.

SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAMS offer families free groceries for weekends and school breaks. Food backpacks include healthy, easy-to-prepare food for kid-friendly meals. 

FREE MEAL PROGRAMS offer free meals to the public. Meals range from warm soup and bread to vegetarian tacos. Many of the programs in Hancock County include fresh, local ingredients in their cooking. Meal programs might be located in church basements or community centers.

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