Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is there a need for this project?
- What’s the goal of Maine Harvest for Hunger?
- What can I do?
- What foods are needed?
- How can a family receive food from this project?
- How do I prepare food/produce for drop-off?
- Do I have to report everything that I give?
- How do I report my donations?
Why is there a need for this project?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 in 8 households in the United States experiences hunger or the risk of hunger. The demand for hunger assistance has increased by 70% in recent years. Statewide, 15.1% of Mainers (198,790 people) experience times when adequate, nutritional food is limited or uncertain. Moreover, of this population, 43% do not qualify for any government support and rely on charities to make ends meet when an unexpected expense arrives.
What’s the goal of Maine Harvest for Hunger?
The goal of Maine Harvest for Hunger (MHH) is to get every home gardener to grow an extra row of vegetables or fruits and donate their surplus to a local food pantry or soup kitchen. If every gardener contributes, a significant impact can be made on reducing hunger.
You can grow and donate extra produce. This involves planting, harvesting, and cleaning extra vegetables and fruits. No matter the size of your garden, you can make a great contribution. Whatever you have in excess from your garden will be greatly appreciated by the local food pantries. Once your produce is ready, either take it to a food pantry or contact someone else who can deliver it for you. Additional ways that you can help include:
- Recruit other gardeners by phone, mail, or other media.
- Pick-up and donate produce to food pantries or drop-off points.
- Glean farmers’ fields and orchards after their harvest.
- Assist with the recruitment of farms/orchards as gleaning sites.
- Volunteer at a community garden.
Any fresh produce will be used; however, foods with good storage life are best. These “good keepers” might include: beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips, and winter squash. Ones that will last about four days include: cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, lettuce, spinach, and broccoli.
How can a family receive food from this project?
They can receive food from their local food pantry. A list of pantries is available here.
How do I prepare food/produce for drop-off?
Food/produce should be clean and dry — the way you’d expect to find it in the grocery store. Please don’t donate badly bruised, overgrown, or rotted food.
Do I have to report everything that I give?
Yes! We want to know what kind of impact this project has state-wide. If you don’t report, we’ll never know.
Weigh (or estimate the weight) of donated produce and report your donation here.