Volunteers pack boxes at the Maryland Food Bank in Halethorpe in this file photo from 2020. Photo by Elliot Jaspin
We think of early fall as a time of abundance – the peak of the growing and harvesting season. But for many Maryland families, scarcity at the dinner table is the norm.
Though it often goes unseen, hunger is a pervasive problem in our state. Right now, one in three Marylanders faces food insecurity – defined as a lack of consistent access to nutritious food. Scarcity of healthy food has been linked to challenges in school for children and chronic health issues for people of all ages. Hunger has massive implications for the future of our society and the strength of our economy.
At the Maryland Food Bank, we see the devastating impact of hunger on our neighbors every day. But we also know that hunger in America is a solvable problem. That’s why we are working urgently to get more delicious, nutritious and fresh food to people that need it, through our network of food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, schools and other distribution hubs.