Maine’s child food insecurity rate remains the highest in New England

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 9:00am

The John T. Gorman Foundation has awarded $1.2 million in grants to support nonprofits that provide food and shelter to Mainers in need through its 2026 Direct Services Grant Program. This year’s program distributed funding to 70 nonprofit organizations in all 16 Maine counties. Organizations and funding amounts are listed below, and full descriptions are available on the Foundation's website.

“Food and housing are foundational to the health and well-being of our communities, but as costs continue to rise and assistance is cut, these essentials are becoming increasingly out of reach for many Maine people,” said Nicole Witherbee, President & CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation, in a news release. “These grants will support nonprofits across the state as they respond to growing demand and work to ensure that as many Mainers as possible have food on the table and a safe place to call home. The John T. Gorman Foundation is grateful for their efforts.”

In response to rising needs, this year’s Direct Services Grant Program focused on supporting organizations in providing food, shelter, or both to the populations they serve. In addition to the $1.2 million announced Sept. 3, 2026, the Foundation also provided $100,000 grants to both Preble Street and Good Shepherd Food Bank earlier this year to support their statewide work in these critical areas.

Hunger and Housing Data Demonstrate Need

Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap data shows that hunger in Maine is on the rise, according to the Foundation. The study estimates that more than 203,000 people in Maine, including nearly 50,600 children, experience food insecurity. Maine’s child food insecurity rate – more than 20% – remains the highest in New England.

In addition, sharply rising housing costs have contributed to housing insecurity in Maine. From 2021 to 2025, the state’s median home price increased 37%; from 2019 to 2024, median rent rose 33%.

Full descriptions of grants are available on the website.

Area Interfaith Outreach, Rockland, $20,000
Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, Presque Isle, $20,000
Augusta Teen Center of The Boys and Girls Club, Augusta, $20,000
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Bangor, $30,000
Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry, Bethel, $10,000
Burlington Food Pantry, Burlington, $10,000
Capital Area New Mainers Project, Augusta, $18,000
Caring Unlimited, Sanford, $30,000
Center for a Green Future DBA Growing to Give, Brunswick, $10,000
CHiP, Inc., Newcastle, $10,000
City of Presque Isle, Presque Isle, $10,000
Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust / Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, Alna, $25,000
Come Spring Food Pantry, Union, $10,000
Community Care, Bangor, $30,000
Community Concepts, Lewiston, $10,000
Cumberland County Food Security Council, Portland, $15,000
East Grand Health Center, Danforth, $15,000
Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Brewer, $30,000
Eastport Public Schools, Pembroke, $15,000
Families First Community Center, Ellsworth, $10,000
Farms for Food Equity, Cape Elizabeth, $15,000
Finding Our Voices, Camden, $20,000
Food For All Services, Portland, $15,000
Franklin County Children’s Task Force, Farmington, $15,000
The Gathering Place, Brunswick, $5,000
Greater Portland Family Promise, Portland, $20,000
H.O.M.E. Inc., Orland, $15,000
Harrison Food Bank, Harrison, $15,000
Healthy Acadia, Ellsworth, $15,000
Healthy Island Project, Stonington, $15,000
Heart of Maine Resource Center, Dexter, $10,000
Homeless Services of Aroostook Inc., Presque Isle, $30,000
Homeworthy, Rockland, $20,000
Hope Acts, Portland, $30,000
Hope And Justice Project Inc, Presque Isle, $20,000
Intercultural Community Center, Westbrook, $20,000
Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber Of Commerce Foundation, Lewiston, $30,000
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Ellsworth, $15,000
Locker Project, Portland, $15,000
Lubec Community Outreach Center, Lubec, $10,000
Machias Area Food Pantry (MAFP), Machias, $15,000
Maine Access Points, Brunswick, $17,000
Central Hall Commons, Dover Foxcroft, $15,000
Maine Mobile Health Program Inc, Augusta, $30,000
Maine Multicultural Center, Brewer, $10,000
Maine Seacoast Mission , Northeast Harbor, $25,000
Midcoast Youth Center, Bath, $15,000
Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition, Belfast, $15,000
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Waterville, $15,000
Millinocket Regional Hospital, Millinocket, $10,000
Moving Forward For Maine Reentry Sisters Corporation, Portland, $10,000
MSAD 54, Skowhegan, $10,000
New Beginnings, Lewiston, $30,000
OHI, Bangor, $15,000
Piscataquis Regional Food Center, Dover Foxcroft, $25,000
Rangeley Health and Wellness, Rangeley, $20,000
Rural Community Action Ministry, Leeds, $15,000
Safe Voices, Auburn, $25,000
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, Biddeford, $15,000
Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Biddeford, $30,000
St. George's Episcopal Church, Sanford, $7,500
Strategies for a Stronger Sanford, Sanford, $15,000
Tedford Housing, Brunswick, $25,000
The Drop-in Center, Auburn, $15,000
Through These Doors (formerly Family Crisis Services), Portland, $17,500
Town of Danforth, Maine, Danforth, $5,000
Trinity Jubilee Center, Lewiston, $20,000
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Inc., Bangor, $20,000
Winthrop Food Pantry, Winthrop, $10,000
Women for Healthy Rural Living, Milbridge, $5,000

The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, with a mission to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive. This focus reflects the recognition of our founder Tom Gorman that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to provide those with fewer advantages opportunities to succeed.