Rebecca Coffin, owner of Hailey’s Kitchen in Windham, said she will provide meals to those left in need without SNAP funds available come next month. (Rory Sweeting/Staff Writer)
A Windham cafe will provide meals to individuals and families in need in the coming days and weeks when SNAP benefits are set to expire.
Amid the ongoing government shutdown, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which nearly 42 million Americans and nearly 170,000 Mainers rely on to buy groceries, will stop sending out aid on Nov. 1.
Rebecca Coffin, owner of Hailey’s Kitchen in Windham, said that when she heard about the impending expiration of SNAP benefits, she was inspired by a comment to make a difference instead of being negative about the situation.
While SNAP does not technically expire until the beginning of next month, Coffin said communities are already feeling the pain. She said recipients are stressed out already about whether or not the food they currently have in their pantry will last them over the next month, and that food banks will be stretched further in the coming weeks.
Coffin decided that, with what little impact she could have, she would try to provide meals for people, particularly with Thanksgiving coming up. Coffin said Hailey’s Kitchen, which is not working in conjunction with any local government or charitable organization, will never turn people away for being hungry.
Coffin said initially she had a panic attack wondering how she was going to feed so many people. However, a post she made in response to the SNAP news went viral on community pages across Cumberland County, and the community came together to support her efforts.
Coffin praised the outpouring of support she has received over the past few days. She said people have been making donations on the phone, or stopping by Hailey’s Kitchen in person to donate meals and provide Thanksgiving kits for those in need.
Coffin said with Thanksgiving approaching, the holidays are for people to come together as families, not to stress out, and that she would try to step in where people are feeling overwhelmed. She said in just a single day, Hailey’s Kitchen had taken seven orders for Thanksgiving kits.
When asked about how long she would be able to continue serving free meals, Coffin said with the community supporting Hailey’s Kitchen, she would be able to continue “for a while,” before challenging other local businesses across the country to step up and provide meals for those in need.
“It takes a village, and it takes a community to support other people,” Coffin said.
