America’s Hauling for Hope, Helping Hungry Veterans
As you learn more about America’s Hauling for Hope, the Maryland Food Bank would like you to consider that veterans and members of our military make sacrifices to ensure that all of us can enjoy our basic human rights. Yet, when it comes to the basic right of food, we’re not honoring those who choose to serve.
A recent research paper from the USDA showed that among a nationally representative survey of U.S. military service members – 24%, or 1 in 4 – said they were food insecure.
According to the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, there are approximately 360,000 veterans and 100,000 active-duty service members, reservists, and National Guardsmen and dependents living in our state.
That means that as many as 115,000 of these heroes could be facing hunger on any given day.
The United Way’s ALICE Report
The United Way believes that traditional economic measures underestimate the actual cost of basic needs, and calculate ALICE by including childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, a smartphone plan and a small 10% contingency fund.
While any of our nearly 800 community partners would be proud to provide relief to veterans, a unique partnership is helping make sure our neighbors in Western Maryland who are also veterans (or military) have access to healthy food.
Since becoming one of those community partners last year, America’s Hauling for Hope has delivered about 5,000 meals to veterans, military members, and their families across Washington County each month.
Washington County has the 7th highest rate of households (43%) that are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and can’t afford to maintain a household survival budget, according to the United Way of Central Maryland’s most recent report.
Recently, we sat down with Clint Rawling, the Executive Director of America’s Hauling for Hope to find out more about how his organization is helping veterans, members of the military, and their families thrive in Western Maryland through home delivery of nutritious food.
Clint Rawlings Tells us About Home Delivery by America’s Hauling for Hope
BEN GROSS: Tell us why America’s Hauling for Hope’s services are needed in 2025.
CLINT RAWLINGS: There are a lot of people in our area that are veterans or spouses of veterans but trying to get in front of some of them to let them know we can help can be challenging. There’s seems to be a certain stigma, where a person’s respect for themselves outweighs their hunger to the point where they won’t admit to needing help, and won’t take the groceries.
BG: Is it only veterans that have that stigma?
CR: No! One of the groups we collaborate with here in Washington County makes backpacks for students that don’t have food on the weekends, or even a regular source for where their next meal is coming from. There’s still that concern that if your kids are seen coming home with a backpack full of food, you know, they might get teased or mistreated. You know how kids can be, and I think it’s the same for veterans.
BG: The recent USDA report says that employment challenges are the most common root cause of hunger in your part of the state – what is your experience, and what are you seeing and hearing from neighbors?
CR: There’s a lot of people out there who are in need but aren’t receiving help because of lack of transportation, disability, and often frailty and not being able to actually carry the groceries themselves. I can tell you a huge thing is the lack of access to resources. And I don’t mean just a lack of transportation, but lack of knowledge of the resources available to them.
BG: How do you find people that need your services?
CR: Most of the people are referred to us by the medical community – either dialysis companies or Meritus Health. During the intake, they are asking, ‘Hey, do you have food?’ or ‘When was the last time you had a full meal?’ We find that people are pretty honest about those, and they’ll ask us to reach out to them and find out more about what their needs are. And remember that stigma? I’d say about half the time they say, ‘Oh, no, I just I must have hit the wrong button or something,’ because they’re too proud.
BG: How many Maryland veterans does America’s Hauling for Hope help out?
CR: We’ve lost a few due to people moving or passing on, but are still active among the veteran population here, about 20-25 households.
BG: Can you tell us a little bit about the food you deliver?
CR: Let me tell you that if it wasn’t for the large amount of food that we’re able to get from the Maryland Food Bank, we wouldn’t be able to provide as much to the households. Because of our partnership, we usually give out about 20-25 items for the single person households, and then it goes up in increments of 5- 10 items per additional household member, capped at around 50 items. And we’re very deliberate about what we get – we don’t want to give people stuff that they’re not gonna want to eat!
The food bank staff, especially Sean, James and Ruthie, is awesome! They do a great job of staying connected with us and connecting us with other resources. In fact, we received a grant to repair the concrete around our food pantry and purchase a manual pallet lift to improve the way we unload deliveries at our location in Williamsport.
BG: Have there been recent changes that concern you?
CR: Two. The first is the big push to make sure that people who are receiving SNAP are working or at least applying for work. I think what we see out here, and what they’re missing, is the huge portion of the population that receives SNAP and can’t work. Either people are disabled, either physically or mentally, or they’re too old or fragile. Some good people can barely operate their phone, okay? And the second is how scared some populations are now. It’s gotten to the point where when we drop off food, a lot of the Hispanic families won’t even open the door, because they’re worried about being deported. So what I would say is, we’re not addressing the full needs of our population, and I think it’s important for the government to provide funding to nonprofits like us, and other entities that can focus on those pocket communities that aren’t being reached. That’s what we can do at America’s Hauling for Hope.
BG: Tell us about the expansion into nearby Allegany County.
CR: At our new affiliate chapter in Allegany County, students studying social work at Frostburg State University and Allegany Community College can get firsthand experience in social work, helping their neighbors in need maintain access to food.
BG: What’s next for America’s Hauling for Hope?
CR: While veterans are having a hard time, I’m really concerned about the number of large senior community buildings here, where people are living completely on their social security check, and I think we can make a difference there too. 
About The Author
Ben Gross
For more than 30 years, Ben has been helping organizations raise awareness and inspire action by creating compelling narratives. And since 2018, Ben has been the Maryland Food Bank's Staff Writer, elevating the voices of food-insecure neighbors to further the Maryland Food Bank's mission of feeding people, strengthening communities, and ending hunger for more Marylanders.
We Need Your Help
Programs, campaigns, and educational outreach at the Maryland Food Bank has always relied on the philanthropic support of charitable individuals like you.
Much like our food distribution efforts, outreach activities at the Maryland Food Bank rely on generous donations of money and time.
We hope you’ll consider a contribution.
