Newscenter Maine - Maine food banks continue to struggle to keep up with demand after the pauses and funding cuts to the USDA federal food assistance programs earlier this year.
At the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick, food warehouse manager David Baecher sees a sharp drop in food deliveries from the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). What once took weeks to sort through now takes just days—a shift Baecher says is alarming, because the faster pace isn't due to efficiency.
“In the past, our deliveries have been up to 14,000 pounds for the month. Today was just over 9,000,” Baecher said, noting an estimated 30% decrease in food supply.
That drop in supply comes as demand climbs. Baecher says, meanwhile, pantry visits at the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program have increased by 30% in just the past year, highlighting the strain on resources.
TEFAP is traditionally the backbone of food bank supplies, especially for shelf-stable dry goods. But with reduced consistency and support, food bank leaders like Sandy Swett, the executive director of the Harrison Food Bank, have been forced to get creative, partnering with local supermarkets and relying on donations, including damaged goods, to fill gaps.