UNE Packs 100,000 Meal Kits to Fight Food Insecurity in Maine
University of New England students, staff, and volunteers across the Biddeford and Portland campuses packed 100,000 nonperishable meal kits in September for Meals for Maine, doubling their output from the previous year to tackle regional food insecurity as part of the national September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Scaling Up Campus Service for Regional Impact
The University of New England doubled its community output from 50,000 meals packed the prior year to a 100,000-kit milestone during the mid-September initiative. Organized under the banner of “Meals for Maine,” the multi-campus drive brought together hundreds of students, staff, and community volunteers to assemble meal kits designed to alleviate hunger across the state. Charlotte Hosterman, a member of the class of 2027 studying occupational studies and serving as vice president of the Hunger Initiative club, helped recruit volunteers and coordinate the logistics. According to Hosterman, the event removed the stress of food acquisition for vulnerable populations while unifying the university community. University of New England President James Herbert joined students on the floor to participate directly in the assembly line.
Grant Funding and National Recognition
The expansion of the program relied on external backing. The University of New England was selected as one of a handful of schools nationwide to receive financial and logistical support from the 9/11 National Day of Service organization, the Pack Shack’s “Feed the Funnel” grant program, AmeriCorps, and MyGoodDeed. Office of Service Learning Director Trisha Mason noted that the institution stands out as one of the smallest to be recognized for nationwide efforts to end hunger. By securing these grants, the university insulated the production logistics against standard operational funding deficits, allowing student organizers to scale their assembly capacity without exhausting internal department budgets, allowing student organizers to scale their assembly capacity without exhausting internal department budgets.
Public Health Demographics and Distribution Strategy
The manufactured meal kits target specific vulnerable demographics across Maine, including older adults, children, and new Mainer families. According to data from Feeding America cited by university administrators, Maine’s food insecurity rate reached 13 percent in 2022, impacting roughly 200,000 residents. Furthermore, a 2017 study by Preble Street indicated that one-third of food-insecure Mainers reside within Cumberland County and Penobscot County, with the remaining two-thirds spread across rural areas. Mason emphasized that access to nutritional food remains vital for public health, noting that food insecurity presents a fundamental barrier to overall well-being. As a health professions institution, the university positions the Meals for Maine project as an academic and public health intervention that trains students to address systemic nutritional gaps.
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