MFB Joins Weinberg Foundation for New Library Dedication at George Washington Elementary School

The Maryland Food Bank is pleased to support the Weinberg Foundation’s Library Project by providing food to students at participating schools throughout the school year. Hunger affects a child’s ability to focus in school and leads to a host of health problems, all while weakening families and communities. By pooling our resources, we are able to nourish both the physical and intellectual needs of Baltimore’s children.

Addressing the Issue

Earlier this week, representatives from the Maryland Food Bank were on hand to support the Weinberg Foundation’s dedication of a renovated library at George Washington Elementary School in southwest Baltimore City.

The dedication marked the 12th in a series of up to 24 renovations that the Weinberg Foundation has planned for their Library Project, a $10 million investment in fostering academic achievement in Baltimore City.

As part of the event, the food bank hosted a food pantry for students in need of food, providing each family with up to 25 pounds of food including fresh oranges, apples, carrots, and potatoes. Altogether, we distributed more than 8,000 pounds of food and we will continue to supply the school’s pantry on a regular basis.

Building a Strong Future

Two years ago, George Washington Elementary began working with our School Pantry Program to offer food-insecure students and their families healthy, nutritious food, ensuring that academics were all they had to worry about. The new library space dovetails nicely with the school’s commitment to helping families struggling with lack of resources.

“Having the Maryland Food Bank as a partner helps us meet the children’s basic needs, which we have to do before we can accelerate literacy,” said Maia Delogu, library and media specialist at George Washington Elementary.

In addition to the library refurbishment, the Weinberg Foundation sponsors a weekly backpack program, working with the food bank to provide students with backpacks containing enough shelf-stable staples to help their families get through the weekend.

Continuing to Care for the Community

The Maryland Food Bank is honored to have a deep and long-standing relationship with the Weinberg Foundation. Since 1994, the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has supported the food bank’s mission through significant financial contributions. We couldn’t continue to lead the charge to end hunger in Maryland without their generosity.