Soup Kitchens
Free meals for unhoused and low-income youth up to age 21
343 Cumberland Avenue, Portland
207-775-0026
Daily: 8:00am-9:00am, 12:00pm-1:00pm, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Three free meals a day for unhoused and low-income women
190 Valley Street, Portland
207-699-4392
St. Vincent de Paul
307 Congress Street
207-772-1113
Monday –Friday 11:00am-12:30pm
Visit their website for Community Meals schedule.
Pantries
Click here for a searchable map of Maine Food Banks by Good Shepherd
Cape Elizabeth
Judy’s Pantry
United Methodist Church, 280 Ocean House Road
2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 3:00 – 5:00 pm.
Contact: bethowens1@gmail.com
Open to residents of Cape Elizabeth
Cumberland
Community Food Pantry
290 Tuttle Road, back of building
1st, 2nd, and 4th Fridays, 3:00 – 6:00 pm.
Contact: 207-653-0561
Need photo ID and proof of residence in Cumberland, North Yarmouth, New Gloucester, or Pownal
Falmouth
Falmouth Food Pantry
271 Falmouth Road (next to Town Hall)
1st & 3rd Mon. 9:00- 11:00 am, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tues. 9:30-11:30 am., 2nd, 3rd & 4th Thurs. 4:30-6:30 pm.
Contact: 207-632-2687
Proof of residence in Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Westbrook, or Portland, available twice a month.
Freeport
Freeport Community Services Food Pantry
53 Depot Street
Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Contact: 207-865-3985
Photo ID and proof of residence for Freeport and Pownal
Gorham
Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry
299A Main Street
Thursdays 9:00 am – 11:00 am, 2nd & 4th Wednesday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Proof of residence needed for Gorham residents and Gorham Parish Members
Located in the white building at the right end of the St. Anne’s parking lot.
Portland
First Baptist Church Food Pantry
360 Canco Road
Wednesdays only and for Portland residents only
Newcomers should arrive about 10:30 to sign in, numbers are given 10:45-11:15, food distribution begins at 11:30
Contact: 207-773-3123
Photo ID and proof of residence requested
Jewish Family Services
1342 Congress Street
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00 am – 3:00 pm by appt.
Contact: 207-772-1959
Open to residents of Portland, Greater Portland, photo ID required, can come once a month.
Multiple food drop locations in and around Portland, find them on the Good Shepherd Food Bank Map.
Project FEED Food Pantry
202 Woodford Street
Monday – Friday 1:00 -3:00 pm
Contact:207-761-3920
Need referral from social service agency, open to residents of Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, and Falmouth once every 2 months
Root Cellar
94 Washington Avenue
Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Emergency Pantry, East End residents only
Proof of residence required
Sacred Heart Food Pantry
80 Sherman Street
Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 am
Contact:207-773-7746
Open to residents of Parkside, no documentation required.
Sagamore Food Pantry
21 Popham Street
Tuesdays 9:00-10:00am
Contact: 207-221-8072
Open to anyone, no documentation required
Salvation Army Food Pantry
297 Cumberland Avenue
Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Contact:207-774-4172
Open to residents of Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Cumberland, Falmouth, Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, no documentation required. Can come once a month.
St. Vincent’s/Cathedral Guild Hall
307 Congress Street
Monday – Friday 11:00-12:30 pm.
Contact:207-772-1113
St. Luke’s Food Pantry
134 Park Street
Thursdays 9:30 – 11:00 am
Contact:207-772-5434
Open to anyone, photo ID and proof of residence required, can come once a month.
Stroudwater Food Pantry
1520 Westbrook St.
207-772-2193
Sun. 1-3
Provides for individuals and families in Southern Maine. Recipients need to register by showing a Maine drivers license or other id during pantry hours.
Wayside Mobile Food Pantries
Various neighborhood sites, times vary
Contact:207-775-4939
White Memorial Pantry
97 Allen Avenue
Thursdays 8:00 – 9:30 am
Contact:207-776-0867
Open to anyone, photo ID required
Williston-Immanuel
156 High Street
Thursdays, arrive by 10:00 am
Contact: 207-775-2301
Open to anyone, no documentation required
Scarborough
Scarborough Food Pantry
167 Black Point Road
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Contact: Ellen Parenteau 207-883-1672 or 207-883-2342
Open to anyone, no documentation required, can come once a month
South Portland
First Congregational Church UCC Food Pantry
301 Cottage Road
Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 am – 12:00 pm (Call ahead)
Contact: 207-799-3361
Open to residents of South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, ID and proof of residence required
The Hub
(neighborhood residents only)
584 Westbrook Street
Wednesdays 1:00 pm (produce), Thursdays 1:00 pm (bread)
Contact: 207-347-4194
South Portland Food Cupboard
130 Thadeus St.
Thursdays 8:30 am – 11:30 am
First Wednesday of every month 5 pm – 7 pm
Contact: Sybil Riemensnider 207-874-0379
Open to anyone, no documentation required, can come once a month
Westbrook
Vineyard Food Pantry
715 Bridgton Road
Fridays 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Contact: Doug Clements 207-854-8339 or 207-650-0495
Open to residents of the Greater Westbrook area, proof of residence needed
Westbrook Community Food Pantry
426 Bridge Street (Westbrook Community Center)
Tuesdays 12:00 – 2:00 pm & 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Contact: Jeanne Reilly 207-854-9105 or call 207-591-8147 to leave message
Open to Westbrook residents, proof of residence needed, can visit twice a month
Windham
Windham Food Pantry
377 Gray Road
Monday – Thursday 8:30 – 4:00 by appointment
Contact: Madeline Roberts 207-892-1931
Open to residents of Windham, proof of residence required, can go once a month.
Yarmouth
Yarmouth Community Food Pantry
116 Main Street
Tuesdays and Fridays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm & Wednesdays 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Contact: Sue Rowe 207-449-1131 or 207-846-3773
Residents of Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Pownal, and Freeport with proof of residence can come once a week.
Nutrition Programs
WIC (Women, Infants, Children)
WIC is a nutrition program for thousands of Maine families, helping Maine kids to grow up strong and healthy. WIC food benefits are available based on income guidelines and up-to-date nutrition research. This website seeks to serve all Maine families with free nutrition advice, tips for staying healthy, and resources for growing families. Provides supplemental food stamps for families with children under 5
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly and commonly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people living in the United States.
Apply with DHHS online or by visiting their office at 151 Jetport Blvd, Portland, ME 04102. Either online or in person, expect to need a lot of documentation, time and patience!
Asylum seekers are eligible to receive SNAP benefits after they properly file their asylum application.
See the Maine Equal Justice website for more information.
Sun Bucks
Sun Bucks is a summer food supplement program for school-age kids from low-income families. It will be administered through DHHS.
Paying for Healthcare
Health Coverage
Maine Equal Justice is the best resource for up-to-date information about health insurance and health care options for people with low- or no incomes and/ or noncitizen status
Mainecare
Maine’s medicaid program - free health insurance for those who qualify
Administered through DHHS - apply online
Eligibility information - Maine children under 21, regardless of immigration status, qualify if their household meets the income guidelines
Community Free Clinic
Portland has a free clinic for uninsured low-income adults who live in Cumberland County
“Free Care” and similar programs
Large healthcare providers in Maine have their own income-dependent programs for patients who cannot pay. People with no income should be able to get essential healthcare at no cost (except the cost of paperwork and time!!). Free Care is the name of the program at MaineHealth, other providers have their own version.
If someone receives a medical bill they can’t pay, DO NOT IGNORE IT but also DON’T PANIC! Call the number on the bill and explain you/ they have no money. Be prepared to sit on hold and jump through some hoops to prove income eligibility, but often the bill can be erased or reduced or at least a payment plan arranged. Don’t ignore it, or it will go to collections and become a bigger problem!