PORTLAND (AP) — A new study finds Mainers are increasingly relying on food pantries for survival, and not for emergencies.
One in four respondents to a survey commissioned by hunger relief agencies reported being dropped from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in the past year.
The groups behind the study say those kicked off food stamps because of restrictions instituted by Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration are now relying on overworked charities.
LePage claims his administration has gotten welfare recipients into jobs.
Maine has reinstituted a three-month limit on food stamps for certain people between the ages of 18 and 50.
Social work agency Preble Street said Maine had 40 food pantries when the organization started four decades ago.
Now, Maine has at least 400 pantries feeding more than 15 percent of Maine’s households.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less