Maine Food Assistance for Families: Food Pantries, Summer Meals, SNAP and More
Food should be accessible to every child and family in Maine. Yet rising grocery, housing, heating, and transportation costs can make it difficult for many households to afford enough food each week.
Maine’s most recent statewide data found that 12.9% of households experienced food insecurity between 2022 and 2024. Feeding America also estimates that more than 190,000 people in Maine face hunger.
Food insecurity doesn’t always look like having nothing to eat. It may mean skipping meals so children can eat, relying on a small selection of lower-cost foods, running out of groceries before the next paycheck, or having to choose between food and other necessities.
Needing assistance is not a personal failure. Food assistance programs exist to help Maine families access the nourishment they need. Below, you’ll find statewide resources for food pantries, free meals, summer food programs, SNAP benefits, farmers’ markets, and other forms of support.
Find Food Assistance Near You in Maine
For immediate help locating groceries or prepared meals, start with one of these statewide search tools.
Good Shepherd Food Bank Food Map
Good Shepherd Food Bank partners with nearly 600 food assistance programs throughout Maine, including:
Community food pantries
Soup kitchens and meal programs
Shelters
Senior centers
School and youth programs
Mobile food distributions
Families can use the Good Shepherd Food Bank Food Map to search by town or address and find nearby food assistance programs.
Because pantry schedules and eligibility requirements can change, contact the organization before visiting when possible.
Maine Food Finder
Maine Food Finder offers an interactive map of food pantries, community meal sites, and other food resources across the state. It also provides information about applying for SNAP through My Maine Connection.
Call or Text 211 Maine
211 Maine connects individuals and families with local food pantries, meal programs, seasonal food resources, community gardens, and nutrition programs.
You can:
Dial 211
Text your ZIP code to 898-211
Search the online 211 Maine directory
211 specialists can also help with related needs such as housing, heating assistance, transportation, childcare, and healthcare.
Free Summer Meals for Children in Maine
School meals provide an important source of nourishment for many children. When the school year ends, Maine’s summer food programs help families fill that gap.
SUN Meals
Maine’s Summer Food Service Program, also known as SUN Meals, provides free meals at approved locations throughout the state.
Children and teenagers ages 18 and younger can receive meals at participating sites. Meals are offered without charge at eligible schools, libraries, recreation programs, community organizations, and other approved locations.
Families do not generally need to complete an application or provide proof of income at open meal sites. However, locations, serving times, and whether meals must be eaten on-site can vary.
Use the Maine Department of Education’s summer meal resources or contact 211 Maine to locate a current meal site.
SUN Bucks
SUN Bucks, sometimes called Summer EBT, provides eligible families with grocery benefits during summer vacation.
In 2026, each eligible school-aged child receives a one-time benefit of $120. Many children are enrolled automatically based on their participation in programs such as SNAP or MaineCare, or through school eligibility information.
Families who believe their child qualifies but did not receive the benefit can apply through My Maine Connection. For summer 2026, applications must be received by August 15, 2026.
SUN Bucks and SUN Meals can be used together. Receiving summer grocery benefits does not prevent a child from visiting a free summer meal site.
Apply for SNAP Benefits in Maine
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP or Maine Food Supplement, provides monthly benefits that can be used to purchase groceries.
Depending on the retailer, SNAP benefits may be used for foods such as:
Fruits and vegetables
Bread, rice, cereal and pasta
Meat, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Beans, nuts and seeds
Frozen and canned foods
Snack foods and nonalcoholic beverages
Seeds and plants used to grow food
Maine residents can apply for SNAP:
Online through My Maine Connection
By phone at 1-855-797-4357
By mail, email or fax
In person at a regional Maine DHHS office
Interpretation is available upon request.
Eligibility is based on several factors, so families should not assume they will be denied based only on income. Maine DHHS can evaluate the household’s complete circumstances.
Use SNAP at Maine Farmers’ Markets
Many farmers’ markets, farm stands, and community-supported agriculture programs accept SNAP benefits.
Participating locations may also offer Maine Harvest Bucks, which provide bonus funds for purchasing local fruits and vegetables. In 2026, more than 60 locations participate in the program.
At participating locations, shoppers can:
Use their EBT card to purchase eligible local foods.
Receive Maine Harvest Bucks based on the amount of SNAP benefits spent.
Use the bonus funds to purchase eligible fruits and vegetables.
Participation and matching amounts can vary by market, so check the Maine Harvest Bucks location map or ask the market’s information booth before shopping.
WIC Support for Pregnant People and Young Children
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, supports eligible people who are pregnant, recently gave birth, are breastfeeding, or are caring for a child younger than five.
WIC may provide:
Monthly food benefits
Infant-feeding and breastfeeding support
Nutrition education
Health screenings
Referrals to healthcare and community services
Farmers’ market benefits when available
WIC is a supplemental program, which means families may receive WIC alongside SNAP, MaineCare, food pantry assistance, and other resources.
Maine Food Pantries and Community Meal Programs
Food pantries can help families obtain groceries without using their SNAP balance or household food budget. Some offer shelf-stable foods, while others may also provide produce, dairy products, meat, frozen meals, diapers, hygiene products, or household supplies.
Community meal programs may offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, or prepared meals to take home.
Programs vary in how they operate. Before visiting, consider asking:
What days and hours are you open?
Do I need an appointment?
Do I need to bring identification or proof of address?
Is there an income requirement?
How often may my household visit?
Do you offer delivery or curbside pickup?
Can you accommodate allergies, disabilities, cultural preferences, or dietary needs?
It is okay to use more than one resource. A family might receive SNAP, visit a pantry, use SUN Bucks, and participate in a summer meal program at the same time.
Maine Organizations Supporting Food Access
Several organizations work to reduce hunger and improve food access throughout Maine.
Good Shepherd Food Bank
Good Shepherd Food Bank supplies food and resources to hundreds of hunger-relief organizations throughout the state. Its partners include local pantries, schools, community centers, shelters, and youth programs.
The Locker Project
The Locker Project offers low-barrier access to fresh food and pantry staples at schools, preschools, and neighborhood sites in Greater Portland and surrounding communities. Its school-based model helps children and families access food in familiar settings.
Full Plates Full Potential
Full Plates Full Potential focuses on ending childhood hunger in Maine. The organization supports schools and communities through grants, technical assistance, advocacy, and resources related to school and summer meal programs.
Preble Street Food Security Hub
Preble Street’s Food Security Hub supports programs that distribute prepared meals and groceries to individuals and families in the Greater Portland area.
St. Mary’s Nutrition Center
Located in Lewiston, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center supports food access through community gardens, youth programs, cooking education, farmers’ markets, and community-based food initiatives.
Community Gardens in Maine
Community gardens can offer another way to access fresh food, build gardening skills, and connect with neighbors.
Some gardens rent plots for a seasonal fee, while others provide reduced-cost plots, shared growing areas, seeds, tools, or educational programs. Availability may be limited, so families should contact the garden coordinator before the growing season whenever possible.
Examples include community garden programs in:
Portland
Auburn
Harpswell
Lewiston
Communities throughout Cumberland County and Androscoggin County
211 Maine may also be able to identify gardens and gardening programs in your area.
When Transportation Is a Barrier
Maine’s rural geography can make reaching a pantry or meal site difficult. When contacting an organization, ask whether it offers:
Mobile food pantry distributions
Home delivery
Curbside pickup
Meals delivered to older adults or people with disabilities
Transportation assistance
A proxy pickup option that allows another person to collect food for you
A local school, healthcare provider, case manager, town office, library, or community action agency may also know about smaller programs that are not widely advertised online.
There Is No Shame in Asking for Help
Many Maine families experience periods when their food budget does not stretch far enough. A job change, medical bill, rent increase, family emergency, disability, delayed paycheck, or higher heating cost can quickly affect the amount of money available for groceries.
You do not have to wait until your refrigerator is completely empty to seek assistance.
Food pantries, SNAP, WIC, SUN Bucks, free school meals, and community meal programs are designed to help people eat consistently. Using these resources can preserve money for housing, medication, transportation, utilities, and other essential needs.
Nutrition Support at CV Wellbeing
Food access is an essential part of nutrition care. Advice about meal planning or balanced eating is not helpful when it ignores a family’s budget, transportation, schedule, kitchen access, culture, sensory needs, or available food.
At CV Wellbeing, our registered dietitians provide practical, compassionate nutrition counseling for children, adults, and families throughout Maine. We can help you develop realistic ways to support nourishment while considering your household’s needs, resources, and relationship with food.
Learn more about our nutrition counseling services or contact CV Wellbeing to schedule an appointment.
Resource availability, program eligibility, hours, and benefit amounts may change. Contact the program directly or visit its official website for the most current information.