SNAP Benefit News Shines Significant Light on Maine’s Camp Out Hunger

Each and every year our team of dedicated Central Maine broadcaster gather in the Sam's Club Augusta parking lot for the region's largest food drive.

For seven years we've been covering the statistical information regarding food need here in Central Maine. For years, we've been seeing a steady uptick in the number of families that require supplemental food each month from organizations like the Salvation Army.

About a day ago, we learned that due to the ongoing government shutdown, which as of the writing of this article has no foreseeable end, the November SNAP benefits will not be loaded for recipients here in Maine. As you can imagine, this has caused extra anxiety for families across the state who rely on this program.

Subsequently, this has brought extra attention to the area's largest food drive, Camp Out Hunger. Even without the SNAP benefit shortfall, COH has continued to be an extremely important drive for thousands of families in the area- now, it's become even more paramount.

I'm here to say that if you can, please do. What I mean by that is if you are in a position where you're able to give to this event, please do. We need as much non-perishable food as humanly possible. To give you an idea of how much, we typically fill up a 53' semi trailer with food.

In addition to the food, we also need cash. The Salvation Army is able to use that cash to buy additional food from their partners for significantly less than you or I could buy the same food.

Camp Out Hunger will happen Monday, November 3rd through Friday, November 7th. Please stop by and help out if you can. Your neighbors will appreciate you for it.