Food Resources and Ways to Support Your Neighbors

What We Know

On October 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service notified all states that November funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not be issued at this time due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
This week, Maine Governor Janet Mills announced $1.25 million for Maine food pantries and anti-hunger programs. The emergency funding includes $1 million from the Governor’s Contingency Account and $250,000 from the John T. Gorman Foundation. These funds will be distributed through Good Shepherd Food Bank and Maine’s network of Area Agencies on Aging to support food pantries and Meals on Wheels programs that assist families, children, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities who have been affected by the loss of federal food benefits.

EBT cards are not frozen. Any current SNAP benefits already loaded onto EBT cards WILL remain available for use to purchase food.
You can still apply for SNAP. SNAP benefit applications, renewals, and updates continue to be accepted and processed by Maine DHHS during the federal government shutdown.

Maine DHHS will provide updates as soon as new details become available.

View/download our Food Resource Guide for Hancock and Washington counties: https://healthyacadia.org/s/Food-Resource-Guide-2025.pdf.
Call 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or visit 211Maine.org.
Good Shepard Food Bank’s Directory of Food Pantries in Maine: https://www.gsfb.org/food-map/
List of Maine Food Assistance By Town: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/tefap/bytown.shtml
Other emergency food resources
FindHelp.org
Eastern Area Agency on Aging offers hot meals for older adults at their Community Cafes. Advance registration is required. To find a Community Cafe near you, visit https://eaaa.org/cafe-sites/
Presente Maine distributes food to New Mainers regularly and can always use both volunteer support and money. They are also facilitating the Maine Solidarity Fund, which offers direct relief in the form of cash transfers up to $2,500 for families of detained individuals and transgender community members.
Follow Healthy Acadia on Facebook - we’ll share additional food resources in our communities as we learn of them.

Donate your end-of-season garden surplus through our Downeast Gleaning Initiative for distribution to local food pantries
Full Plates Full Potential's "How to Help" page.
Good Shepherd Food Bank "Get Involved" page.
Support your local food pantry, food bank, or food security organization:
- Donate Money - to purchase food wholesale/in bulk;
- Volunteer to help organize donations, deliver, or distribute food;
- Donate Food - check with your local food security organization to see what’s needed most right now.
Do you have information about a local business, group, organization, or program that’s providing free or discounted meals or supporting access to food at this time? Message us on Facebook/Instagram or send an email to info@healthyacadia.org, and we will help to spread the word!