Maine is one of the top four states when it comes to providing federally-funded food stamps to people who qualify.

U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding Maine with a bonus of nearly $684,000, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced today.

The USDA bases its rating on the number of program participants when compared to the number of people below the 125 percent poverty level. In Maine, about 74 percent of eligible people received food stamps.

“We continue to work on improving all aspects of the Food Stamp Program and remain committed to leveraging these dollars to help feed the hungry in Maine," DHHS Commissioner Brenda Harvey said in a statement.