Despite our state's wealth of natural resources, in 2020 Maine ranked 12th in the nation for food insecurity. According to the USDA's September 2019 Economic Research Service report, 13.6% of Maine's households are considered food insecure, and 1 in 5 Maine children are unsure of their next meal. 

A cornerstone of all community cookbooks is that a portion of proceeds supports good works in the community. When we first envisioned the Maine Bicentennial Community Cookbook, we decided that the book should support organizations fighting hunger and food insecurity in Maine. $2 from every copy sold of the Maine Bicentennial Community Cookbook will go to organizations fighting hunger in Maine.

Through December 2022, we’ve been able to distribute more than $25,000 to organizations fighting hunger in Maine. As we distribute funds raised by the cookbook to these organizations, we will post the names and websites of these organizations, and ways that you can help them directly.

We also encourage you to read the essay by Jim Hanna, Executive Director of the Cumberland County Food Security Council, about the efforts to end hunger in Maine by the year 2030. We have published his essay to the website, together with his “Menu to End Hunger,” a list of action steps that you can take to be part of this critical effort to provide food security for all Mainers.

Organizations receiving support for efforts to fight food insecurity & inequity (Summer 2020):

Wabanaki Reach: Statewide

Full Plates Full Potential Emergency Fund: Statewide

Maine Credit Unions Campaign for Ending Hunger: Statewide

Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine: Androscoggin County

Waldo County Bounty: Waldo County

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter: Penobscot County

Biddeford Food Pantry: York County

Cumberland County Food Security Council: Cumberland County

Michael Klar Jewish Family Services: Cumberland County

Organizations receiving support for efforts to fight food insecurity & inequity (Fall & Winter 2020):

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Statewide

AIO (Area Interfaith Outreach), Knox County

Maine Meal Assistance, Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, & York Counties

The Locker Project, Cumberland & York Counties

Cooking for Community, Androscoggin & Cumberland Counties

Gray Food Pantry, Cumberland County

Blue Angel, Hancock County

Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Statewide

Belfast Soup Kitchen, Waldo County

Catholic Charities Farm For ME, Aroostook County

Augusta Food Bank, Kennebec County

Bath Area Backpack Program, Sagadahoc County

Organizations receiving support for efforts to fight food insecurity & inequity (January 2021):

Good Shepherd Food Bank Campaign to End Hunger , Statewide

Southern Aroostook Pantry, Aroostook County

The Game Loft, Waldo County

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, Cumberland, Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc, & Waldo Counties

Growing to Give, Cumberland and Mid-Coast Counties

Organizations receiving support for efforts to fight food insecurity & inequity (November / December 2021):

Wabanaki Health and Wellness, Statewide

Somali Bantu Community Organization, Androscoggin, Cumberland, and Kennebec Counties

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Statewide

King Middle School Raised Bed Herb Garden, Cumberland County

Full Plates Full Potential, Statewide

Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program, Cumberland, Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc, & Waldo Counties

Wayside Food Programs, Cumberland County

Catholic Charities Feed the County, Aroostook County

Maine Federation of Farmers Markets Harvest Bucks Program, Statewide

Preble Street Food Security Hub, Cumberland County

Michael Klar Jewish Family Services:,Cumberland County

Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Statewide

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Statewide

Cumberland County Food Security Council, Cumberland County

Organizations receiving support for efforts to fight food insecurity & inequity (December 2022):

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Statewide

Full Plates Full Potential, Statewide

Wabanaki Health and Wellness, Statewide

Wayside Food Programs, Cumberland County

Somali Bantu Community Organization, Androscoggin, Cumberland, and Kennebec Counties

Waldo County Bounty, Waldo County

Farms for Food Equity, Southern Maine

Locker Project, Cumberland & York Counties

Southern Aroostook Pantry, Aroostook County

Preble Street Food Security Hub, Cumberland County

Veggies to Table, Lincoln County

Michael Klar Jewish Family Services, Cumberland County

Knox County Gleaners, Knox County

Lubec Community Outreach Center Food Pantry, Washington County

Next distribution: Summer 2023. If you are an organization working to fight hunger in Maine and would be interested in receiving support from the Maine Bicentennial Community Cookbook, please email us.