Founded in 1979, the Maryland Food Bank provides six million meals a year in Maryland through its partnership with nearly 1,200 soup kitchens, pantries, shelters, and community-based organizations. Learn more about their work.

Tell us about the biggest barriers to food security in Maryland. Which communities are most at risk?

One in three Marylanders are facing hunger. Our state is third in the nation when it comes to grocery prices, and as inflation rises, the Maryland Food Bank and our partners have seen higher and higher levels of need. In July, nearly 41% of families said their children were not eating enough – 10% higher than in June.

The Maryland Food Bank’s goal is to end hunger. That means expanding access to nutritious food, but it also means addressing the root causes of hunger. That may be financial instability from work that doesn’t pay a family sustaining wage; lack of access to adequate health care; lack of affordable, safe, and stable housing; or insufficient transportation options.

While hunger affects everyone, we see that families with children, older adults, individuals in low-income homes— even if they are working—and communities of color are the most impacted by food insecurity.

During the pandemic, access to food quickly became one of the highest needs for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. How has the Maryland Food Bank adjusted to meet that demand?

Historic levels of food insecurity pushed us to examine ways we could work better and more equitably as an organization. That has included a focus on the nutritional quality of the food we distribute; we purchase much more food today than we have in our history.

We also thought about how to expand the capacity of food distribution hubs across the state. In 2024, we’ve provided grants to partners and other community organizations at a record level—from funds for a refrigerator or delivery van to grants to reach neighbors in "hunger hotspots."

While we aren’t seeing the same sky-high levels of need we saw during the pandemic, food insecurity has not meaningfully subsided—and in too many Maryland communities, it’s growing.

Food is rooted in our cultural experiences. How does MFB provide culturally-inclusive food?

We know how important it is to have culturally inclusive food options—especially for those who may be new residents to Maryland. One of the ways we’ve been sourcing more of these products is through our culturally inclusive crops program. On the Eastern Shore and in Baltimore City, we are working with farmers to grow specific types of crops popular in Afro-Caribbean and Latin American communities. Crops like callaloo, okra, and scotch bonnet peppers can be prohibitively expensive or hard to find in Maryland.

These types of programs benefit the community in two ways: by providing a “taste of home” for folks who may be far from where they grew up, and by supporting local farmers who can now rely on a market for these products.

Tell us about your role in promoting SNAP access. What can readers do to improve food access in their communities?

In the past three years, we’ve secured an increase in monthly benefit amounts for older adults, as well as lower age requirements. We are also active in advocating at the federal level to ensure that SNAP remains a stable, accessible safety net for the more than 680,000 Marylanders and their families who rely on it.

People facing food insecurity are our neighbors, and everyone can play a role in ending hunger. Visit mdfoodbank.org for ways you can make a difference throughout the year.