As of the afternoon of November 4, 2026, the eighth annual Camp Out Hunger drive is underway in the Sam’s Club parking lot on Marketplace Drive in Augusta, Maine, where Townsquare Media’s 92 Moose and B-98.5 are camping out through Friday at 3 p.m. to collect food and monetary donations for the Salvation Army’s Capitol Region food pantry, WABI reported.
The week-long campout, now in its eighth year, runs through Friday at 3 p.m., and every donation collected stays in Central Maine. Organizers are accepting both food and cash contributions at the site, with requested items tracked on an online food drive tracker maintained by the event.
Donation totals equalize impact regardless size
- Donations of any size aggregate to the same impact: one company giving 800 cans equals 800 individuals giving one can each, according to Capt. Keith Davis.
- The drive addresses rising need ahead of Thanksgiving, with organizers reporting record-breaking turnout despite a financially difficult year for families.
- The giving window closes Friday at 3 p.m.; after that, all collected items go directly to the Salvation Army food pantry in Augusta.
Record turnout despite household budget pressure in Central Maine
Organizers attribute the strong response to the generosity of Central Mainers even as families face a financially difficult year.
Capt. Keith Davis, commanding officer of the Salvation Army Capitol Region, put the math plainly. “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 aggregation principle is the operational core of the event: corporate and individual contributions are fungible in the total, which lowers the barrier for participation and broadens the donor base during a period of household financial strain.
How the donations flow to the Augusta food pantry
Every donation stays local. Items and funds go to the Salvation Army’s food pantry in Augusta, meaning the drive functions as a direct supply line into a single regional distribution point rather than a dispersed network. The Salvation Army publishes its requested items on the Camp Out Hunger online food tracker, letting donors align contributions with actual pantry needs instead of guessing.
| Event Detail | Figure / Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Event edition | Eighth annual | WABI |
| Deadline for donations | Friday at 3 p.m. | WABI |
| Example corporate donation | 800 cans of corn, earlier this week | Capt. Keith Davis, via WABI |
| Beneficiary | Salvation Army food pantry, Augusta | WABI |
Why this matters for the local economy heading into Thanksgiving
Food pantry demand typically rises in the weeks before Thanksgiving as household budgets stretch toward holiday expenses.
The practical takeaway for residents: the window to contribute closes Friday at 3 p.m. at the Sam’s Club lot on Marketplace Drive, and monetary donations are accepted alongside food through the same deadline.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
