Donations During Maine's Deer Season provide meat to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households across the state.

Governor LePage urges support for Hunters for the Hungry Program 

Donations During Maine's Deer Season provide meat to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households across the state 

 

 

AUGUSTA – With the 2015 hunting season underway, Governor Paul R. LePage is again urging Maine hunters to consider supporting the Hunters for the Hungry Program by donating all or part of their harvest to feed families in need. The popular program provides a means for Maine hunters, as well as hunters from other states, to donate harvested game to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households with a medical need.

“The Hunters for the Hungry Program is a way that Maine hunters can pursue a sport they love and help their neighbors at the same time,” said Governor LePage. “Donations can provide meat to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households across the state. The fact that this program has grown so steadily is both a testament to the need and the generosity of Mainers.”  

Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb noted that since its establishment in 1996, the Hunters for the Hungry Program has provided thousands of nutritious meals to people across the state.

“Since 1996, Maine sportsmen and women have contributed to a program that provides nutritious meals to people across Maine,” said Whitcomb. “The Hunters for the Hungry Program puts high quality, native protein on the tables of Maine families.”

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry distributes many types of donations to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households with a medical need. The Hunters for the Hungry Program is part of the Department’s Emergency Food Assistance Program. It is done in cooperation with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s wardens, Maine State Troopers and hunters, are all working towards a common goal of helping fellow Mainers.

The program accepts bear, deer and moose donations. Road kill donations are also accepted, provided the meat is not damaged. Hunters do not pay for the processing of donated meat. Meat processing costs are paid for by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the charity that receives the food. Hunters choosing to keep their game can still donate a few pounds to the program. Meat processors that are interested in getting involved with the program and learning how it works should call 207-287-7513.

For more information, to donate, or to get connected to a Hunters for the Hungry participating meat processor call toll free, 1-888-4DEERME (1-888-433-3763). The program also has a Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maine-Hunters-for-the-Hungry/197411763763406

For more information about The Emergency Food Assistance Program:

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/tefap/index.shtml

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf

Everyone has Something They Can Do to Help Neighbors in Need.

Everyone has something they can do to help a neighbor in need.
Today marked the donation of 100 dozen farm fresh eggs  by Gary and myself to the New Covenant Church Food Pantry in North Berwick, ME.
We didn't donate 100 dozen all at once, rather it was several dozen one week, two dozen the next, etc....  You don't have to make a HUGE donation to make a difference!! One or two items each week or even each month, can feed many who are struggling in our own town!!

Deborah Wilson and Pat McLaughlin of the New Covenant Church Food Pantry.

New Covenant Church works with local retailers, farmers and civic organizations to help feed many families. August 2015 number showed the pantry feeding over 240 families, 132 of those families are from Lebanon, Maine.
That's not a misprint. 132 Families from Lebanon Maine are accessing this amazing food pantry.
Shown here with Pat McLaughlin who has come to the farm to pick up eggs each and every Monday throughout the summer!!
Pat, who works with the York County Community Action out of Sanford, volunteers his time with the food pantry as he knows just how important it has become to providing fresh vegetables, meats, fish and farm fresh products to families who are food challenged.
Please consider a donation of food items to the New Covenant Church in North Berwick, Maine. If you call, they'll even come and pick up your donation!!!

Maine DHHS Announces Asset Test for Food Stamps

 

*$5,000 asset limit applies to cash, snowmobiles, boats, motorcycles, and more in childless households receiving food stamps*

**AUGUSTA** - The Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced the implementation of a new rule within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, that will impose a $5,000 asset test to households without children that receive the benefit.

There will be a public hearing on the routine technical rule change on October 6 in Augusta, with full implementation expected in the following weeks. Under the rule, those applying or re-applying for SNAP benefits will be required to disclose certain assets. If those assets exceed $5,000 in value, the applicant will be ineligible for benefits. The asset test is a provision of federal law that Maine has waived in recent years.

For the purposes of the rule, assets do not include equity in a home or a household's primary vehicle. Assets do include the balance of bank accounts, snowmobiles, boats, motorcycles, jet skis, all-terrain vehicles, recreational vehicles, campers, and other valuable assets.

"Most Mainers would agree that before someone receives taxpayer-funded welfare benefits, they should sell non-essential assets and use their savings," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Hard-working Mainers should not come home to see snowmobiles, four wheelers or jet skis in the yards of those who are getting welfare. Welfare is a last resort, not a way of life."

"We are continually evaluating ways to prioritize funding for those who need it most while transforming the welfare system from a culture of entitlement to a culture of self-reliance," added DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew. "When people see that some are using welfare as a first line of defense to keep their boats and motorcycles, rather than using welfare as a safety net, it hurts the public perception of the program."

The rule change will apply to approximately 8,600 individuals on food stamps. Maine in 2014 ranked first in the nation for its decline in food stamp dependency, according to the Federal Nutrition Service (FNS), thanks to the LePage Administration's decision to re-impose the work requirement for able-bodied, 18-49 year old childless adults on the program-a similar federal requirement that had been waived by Maine.

FREE Sports Physicals for Children aged 12 and Up at Seacoast Orthopedics, Benefits Food Pantries.

Seacoast Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (SOSMed) will offer free walk-in sports physical clinics for students ages 12 and up on Wednesday, August 5^th and Tuesday, August 11^th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at their main office located at 7 Marsh Brook Drive in Somersworth.
While there is no charge to obtain a pre-participation physical evaluation during the clinics, students are asked to bring non-perishable, non-expired food items to donate to the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP) food pantries.
CAP is a private nonprofit established in 1965 that helps families and individuals meet their basic needs through early childhood and parent education, job training, food and nutrition services, utility and housing assistance, homeless prevention and transportation for seniors. The agency, which provides services across Strafford County, operates food pantries inside its Dover and Farmington Outreach offices.
“We are so grateful to Seacoast Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in helping stock our food pantries during what is traditionally a challenging time of year,” says Betsey Andrews Parker, CAP’s Executive Director. “Community partnerships such as this are what make a difference in the lives of those in need every day. And in the late summer, our food pantries are often low on food but still experience a very high demand so this is a great time of year to donate to our pantries.”
In addition to the two sports physical clinics, SOSMed will collect donations throughout the weeks of August 3^rd-7^th & 10^th-14^th at their Somersworth location. Employees, patients, and community members are welcome to contribute to the collection effort. At the end of the two weeks, SOSMed will match the food donation collection with a monetary donation (based on the value determined by CAP).

New Covenant Baptist Church, North Berwick, Food Pantry Open Today!!

New Covenant Food Pantry Offers Additional Aid for Lebanon's Low Income and Hungry.

 

 

New Covenant Food Pantry
(In basement of New Covenant Baptist Church)
285 Maple Street, No. Berwick

Open Mondays 4-6pm

Welcomes residents of North Berwick and Lebanon!

Available weekly:
- fresh fruit and vegetables

-fresh meats and fish
           - canned & packaged foods
- paper goods & toiletries
- refridgerated & frozen foods

This is a non-profit organization staffed by non-denominational volunteers.

Food is provided to those in need require only proof of residence and a simple form to be filled out upon arrival.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Mary Craig (207) 676-4001
Jim Davis (603) 312-2979