10th annual Hancock County Food stuff Drive planned for April

ELLSWORTH — The Hancock County Foods Safety Network will host the 10th annual Hancock County Foodstuff Generate in April. The thirty day period-extensive collaborative fundraising venture supports 18 foods pantries, meal internet sites, and school backpack plans across Hancock County. This yr, the task aims to raise $40,000, which will deliver 160,000 meals of healthful food stuff to Mainers experiencing food stuff insecurity.

In accordance to the Maine Center for Financial Policy, much more than 1 in 10 Maine homes goes devoid of wholesome meals, generating Maine the most foodstuff insecure state in New England. Childhood meals insecurity fees in our region are even higher: according to Kids Rely Details Center, 20 p.c or 1 in 5 – youngsters in Hancock County are living in food stuff-insecure households, which can have lifelong impacts on children’s bodily well being, mental health and fitness, and education and financial results. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought about common unemployment, has exacerbated the worries that Mainers experience when accessing healthy food items. Meals aid packages in Hancock County that ended up presently grappling with superior hunger prices are now reporting a sharp raise in numbers. The Hancock County Food stuff Drive will help to ensure that these programs have the sources they have to have and that all households in our community have accessibility to healthful, economical foods.