School is Back, Hunger Shouldn't Be

Hunger and Learning Go Hand in Hand

September is Hunger Action Month, a time to shine a light on how hunger impacts our neighbors, especially children.

Here in Piscataquis County, 1 in 4 kids are food insecure. Thanks to free school meals for every student, children have access to breakfast and lunch during the school day. But what happens when the school bell rings, when it’s the weekend, or when summer vacation arrives?

That’s when the struggle becomes most visible, not just for children, but for their families. Because behind every hungry child is a hungry parent or guardian doing their best to stretch food, budgets, and hope.

Hunger doesn’t just cause an empty stomach. It creates stress, uncertainty, and tough tradeoffs, like paying the heating bill instead of buying groceries, or skipping meals so kids can eat first. For families already facing rural challenges like long drives to stores and limited access to fresh food, the barriers are even greater.

At Piscataquis Regional Food Center, we believe no child and no family should have to face hunger alone. We’re working to close the gap. This Hunger Action Month, you can help. Together, we can ensure that children and their families have nourishing food on the table every day of the year.