Roughly one in seven Mainers are going hungry, with children and older adults most at risk, according to a new estimate from the national nonprofit Feeding America.
More than 203,000 Maine residents experienced food insecurity in 2024, with the state’s food insecurity rate rising to 14.5%, according to Map the Meal Gap, an annual report from the Chicago-based nonprofit.
The rate increased from 13.8% in 2023, as households cope with rising costs for food, housing and other basic needs. The study found that, in Maine, 50,600 children and some 31,000 adults age 60 or older experienced food insecurity.
Maine continues to have the highest child food insecurity rate in New England, according to the report. Rural communities also face significant challenges, with Washington County reporting the highest rate in New England, at 18.8%.
“Food insecurity touches every community in Maine,” said Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “These numbers represent our neighbors — children, older adults, working families, veterans and people doing everything they can to make ends meet. While the data show the scale of the challenge, they also reinforce the importance of continuing to work together to ensure everyone in Maine has reliable access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.”
The study found that nearly 46% of food-insecure Mainers had incomes above the eligibility threshold for SNAP, leaving many households reliant on local food pantries for support. The estimated food budget shortfall for food-insecure Maine households totaled more than $151 million in 2024, while the average cost of a meal rose to $3.92.
The estimates reflect 2024 conditions, and food assistance providers say demand has continued to grow amid rising costs and changes to federal nutrition programs.
About Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, based in Auburn, is the largest hunger relief organization in Maine. It provides Mainers facing hunger by distributing nutritious food to more than 600 partner agencies across the state, including food pantries, meal sites, schools and senior programs. It claimed revenue of $99.66 million in its most recent tax filing, according to the Mainebiz Giving Guide, which cited GuideStar data.
