Democratic Rep. Anne Graham of North Yarmouth is spearheading efforts to address hunger in Maine by sponsoring a bill, LD 415, that proposes to allocate $2 million over two years to support nonprofits providing hunger relief services. Graham was inspired by a mother seeking food assistance who was visibly embarrassed, highlighting the struggle faced by many middle-class families in Maine.
According to data from the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, one in eight people in Maine live in households struggling to afford enough food, with the state having the highest rate of food insecurity among children in New England. While there has been some improvement in food security rates over time, the demand for food assistance from local pantries continues to rise.
Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank, supports Graham’s bill and emphasizes the need for additional funding to sustain programs like Mainers Feeding Mainers. This initiative aims to provide fresh, locally sourced food to those in need while also supporting farmers financially. Currently, the program relies on a mix of state funding and donated money to cover costs, which are higher than imported food options.
Despite budget constraints and a challenging fiscal outlook, Graham is determined to advocate for hunger relief funding, recognizing the critical importance of addressing this issue. She hopes that lawmakers will prioritize initiatives like LD 415 and a similar bill proposed by Rep. Henry Ingwersen to provide much-needed support to Mainers facing food insecurity. The debate around these bills and others proposing spending will be challenging, but Graham remains committed to advocating for those in need.
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