04/10/2026
As we prepare for this evening's event, we see our community coming together and it is exciting! Tonight will feature food, music, and art created by community members. It is important to reflect on why this event exists, Empty Bowls is a response to food insecurity at a local level. It is the collective power of a community coming together, using what resources we have, to make a difference.
So what exactly is Food Insecurity?
As defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), “food insecurity means that households were, at times, unable to acquire adequate food for one or more household members because they had insufficient money and other resources for food.” Because food insecurity is caused by a lack of sufficient resources, it is a symptom of a household’s broader struggle to make ends meet. That struggle results in making sacrifices on food, which is a more flexible expense compared to other basic need expenses with non-negotiable fixed costs like housing.
Food is not a luxury, it is a right and people deserve affordable healthy food. If you are looking to provide assistance to those that are food insecure, here is a list of Aroostook County Food Pantries. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/tefap/Aroostook.shtml
For more information:
https://www.maine.gov/future/hunger/dashboard/food-insecurity-rates
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security
USDA Household Food Insecurity Measure As defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), “food insecurity means that households were, at times, unable to acquire adequate food for one or more household members because they had insufficient money and other resources for food.” Because food...
