**SNAP Action Alert**

UPDATE AS OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH, 2025 AT 12:12 PM EST

Update from Maine DHHS: Federal Shutdown Ends – Full SNAP Benefits Restored : The federal shutdown has ended. If your household received a partial SNAP benefit, the remaining amount will be added to your EBT card by Saturday, November 15. Check your balance anytime by calling the number on the back of your card or using the ebtEDGE app or website. Future SNAP benefits will also be issued on schedule. Learn more at maine.gov/dhhs/ofi 

UPDATE AS OF FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2025 AT 4:29 PM EST

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to restore SNAP funding by the end of today (Friday, November 7th). The Administration has filed an appeal. Stay tuned for more updates.

Judge orders full SNAP benefits be restored Friday : NPR  

UPDATE AS OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH, 2025, AT 2:26 PM EST

Use our interactive map to see how many children in each Maine House District rely on SNAP benefits, and easily connect with your Representative using the included email links. Click on a district to learn more. For questions or comments, please reach out to kkinchla@mekids.org . 

 

UPDATE AS OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025, at 11:35 AM EST-

The Food Research & Action Center reports that " Two Federal District Court judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island today ordered that the administration must release SNAP contingency funds to provide benefits for November... The Massachusetts judge gave the administration until Monday to advise the court on whether full or partial SNAP benefits will be authorized (contingency funds are insufficient for full November benefits, but additional funding sources are available and can be used to provide full November benefits). The Massachusetts decision was in response to a 26-state lawsuit arguing that the Trump administration unlawfully suspended November SNAP benefits. When will benefits be issued if the states ultimately prevail (assuming there may be appeals)? The short answer is — it depends on the state."

FRAC and MCA encourage you to continue reaching out to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and expressing your concern at 202-720-3631 or Brooke.Rollins@usda.gov. Scroll down below for more information about what to do if you are in need of food or just want to help!

Original Blog:

We’ve got a big ask — because if the federal government doesn’t fulfill its responsibility, there’s about to be a big need.

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that SNAP benefits would not be going out to anyone for the month of November. The ongoing government shutdown was cited as the reason; however, the federal government does have contingency funds they could release to cover November SNAP benefits. This is a man-made disaster.

Over 175,000 of your Maine neighbors stretch their food dollars with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. In September of 2025, this included 51,561 children.

For every one meal that a charitable food organization provides, SNAP provides nine. We’re grateful that local food pantries will step up to meet needs, but we know there will still be gaps they can’t fill. We need your help to make sure these food pantries are prepared to best meet the need AND put pressure on the administration and Congress to make sure families can put food on the table for November.

SNAP is the most effective tool we have to fight hunger. Let’s make sure children and their families don’t go hungry.

Here’s how you can help during this scary time for so many Mainers!

Call Senator Collins and thank her for putting pressure on USDA and signing onto the SNAP bill.
Tell her your story and why SNAP matters to you and Maine, and ask her to continue fighting for SNAP contingency funds to be released.

D.C. office: 202-224-2523
Augusta office: 207-662-8414
Bangor office: 207-945-0417
Biddeford office: 207-784-6969
Caribou office: 207-493-7873
Lewiston office: 207-784-6969
Portland office: 207-618-5560

Reach out to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and tell her why Mainers need their SNAP benefits for November.
Phone: 202-720-3631
Email: Brooke.Rollins@usda.gov

Contact your local food pantry  and find out what they need. There are many ways you can help:
• Volunteer
• Donate food
• Give money

Find your local pantry here: Food Map | Find Maine Food Pantries | Good Shepherd Food Bank

Remind your neighbors that school breakfast and lunch are still available at no cost to ALL Maine kids.
Encourage your local school to send outreach home to families about the food resources available at school.
Your school nutrition program is likely to see an increase in demand, so contact them and find out if they need help or support!

Need food assistance?
If you or someone you know is in need, visit our Food Map to find a local pantry or meal site near you.

Find your local pantry: Food Map | Find Maine Food Pantries | Good Shepherd Food Bank

Thank you so much for reading.
At the end of the day, Mainers take care of each other — and for that, we are deeply grateful.