Townsquare Media’s 92 Moose and B-98.5 are hosting their eighth annual Camp Out Hunger at the Sam’s Club parking lot on Marketplace Drive in Augusta, WABI reported, as the week-long drive collects food and monetary donations for the Salvation Army’s food pantry ahead of the Thanksgiving season.
The campout, now in its eighth year, has become a fixture in Central Maine’s pre-holiday calendar, drawing local residents and companies to the Marketplace Drive lot through Friday at 3 p.m. Organizers say that despite a financially difficult year for many families, the drive has seen record-breaking turnout and donations of all sizes, a surge they attribute to the generosity of Central Mainers.
Every can and dollar collected stays in the region. All donations go directly to the Salvation Army’s food pantry in Augusta, ensuring that the resources gathered in the parking lot reach neighbors facing hunger during the holiday season. The Salvation Army maintains an online food tracker listing requested items, allowing donors to see exactly what the pantry needs most.
A Company’s 800 Cans Equals 800 People’s Single Cans
Capt. Keith Davis, commanding officer of the Salvation Army Capitol Region, emphasized that the scale of a donation matters less than the act of giving itself.
“If you have a company that comes and donates 800 cans of corn, which did happen earlier this week, or you have 800 people coming and donating one can, it’s the same amount,” Davis said. “And so everybody can come together and make a big difference.”
That comparison captures the dual nature of the drive: corporate partners delivering bulk contributions alongside individuals dropping off single items. Both streams feed the same total, and both are essential as the Salvation Army prepares for increased need during the Thanksgiving season.
The event runs through Friday at 3 p.m., giving Central Maine residents a final window to contribute food or money. Organizers accept both forms of donation at the Sam’s Club parking lot on Marketplace Drive, with the food tracker available online for those wanting to target specific pantry needs.
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