The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) is announcing that it has raised $42,820 to support Portland Public Schools students and families struggling with food insecurity as a result of the disruption in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) caused by the government shutdown.

“This is an unprecedented response,” said Andrea Weisman Summers, Executive Director of the Foundation for Portland Public Schools. “Students can't focus on learning if they are hungry and the way that our community has stepped up to confront the looming hunger crisis is genuinely heartwarming."

All donations made to the FPPS Food Fund during the shutdown will go toward stocking food pantries in the Portland Public Schools and toward Hannaford gift cards for families affected by the pause in SNAP benefits. FPPS is working with social workers and school counselors in the Portland Public Schools to distribute these resources equitably.

“The Portland Public Schools appreciates the Foundation's contribution to this multi-layer approach to addressing food insecurity in our community,” said Sarah Beam, the district’s Director of Student Support. “In addition to pointing people to community resources, providing families with access to buy food at the local grocery store allows families to pick out the foods they need the most rather than relying on what is available at pantries. The gift cards and support for increasing the food that The Locker Project provides to our schools helps to make this enormous need slightly more manageable for our school teams.”

People looking for ways to help should visit the Foundation for Portland Public Schools website or refer to the Portland Public Schools Community Food Resource Guide.

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools is a nonprofit organization with a mission to be a catalyst for increased educational opportunities, achievement, and equity for all Portland Public Schools students and staff. Learn more about us at www.foundationforpps.org.

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with approximately 6,500 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 59 languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent are students of color. Over half of PPS students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.