In communities throughout Maine, many are confronted with the painful daily reality of not being able to access enough food for themselves and their families. House Majority Leader Maureen Terry, the sponsor of Maine’s Hunger Prevention Act, passed in July 2021, reports that nearly 1 in 10 people in our state is currently experiencing hunger, including 1 out of every 6 children.

There are ways to help: 1. Donate to your local food pantry; 2. Volunteer at a local program that helps feed people, and 3. File your taxes. Now, Mainers have the opportunity to help efforts to end food insecurity by simply checking a box on their state tax forms.

For the first time, there’s an option on Form 1040ME for taxpayers to donate a portion of their refund to support the Emergency Food Assistance Program Fund (or to respond to a request to mail in the amount if no refund is owed to the taxpayer). Just select an amount on Line 8 of Schedule CP of Form 1040ME. The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides emergency food assistance for low-income folks at no cost, supporting our most vulnerable and helping to create a hunger-free Maine for future generations.

If every Maine income tax filer donates $5, we can finally end hunger in Maine. Help end food insecurity for the whole state.

Sara Lambert Bloom
Biddeford