Advocacy is an important part of what the Maryland Food Bank does for the 665,420 Marylanders who don’t always know where their next meal will come from. If we don’t help amplify the voices of the children, seniors, veterans, hardworking families and individuals who rely on the food assistance safety net, who will?
Graduates from FoodWorks Class 28 left our 12-week culinary program last Friday with a ServSafe Manager certification, job readiness skills, and a desire to give back despite facing an unimaginable amount of hardships. Here are some of their stories.
When we say “We Are Maryland’s Food Bank,” we truly mean we. Without your support we would not be able to provide healthy and nutritious food for Maryland’s children, seniors, members of the military, and working families who want to lead productive lives, free from the burden of hunger. We do this because food is a basic human right. We do this because we can remove some of the barriers to self-sufficiency by the act of providing food.
Nutrition matters. It’s that simple. A diet that supplies the body with the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle and allows people to achieve their full potential. In this series of blog posts, our resident nutritionist Kathy Egan (RDN, LD, MEd) will explore how the Maryland Food Bank is helping ensure that food-insecure Marylanders have consistent access to healthy foods and understand the importance of nutrition in their lives.
At the Maryland Food Bank, we know that child hunger has a significant impact, but we are learning more and more about just how far-ranging and long-lasting that impact can be. When a child shows traditional signs of food insecurity — struggling to focus, lacking the energy to participate in recess or sports, or experiencing physical maladies — it’s easier to recognize and address. The psychological effects, however, tend to be more difficult to identify and may manifest in different ways at different times in life.
Check out the latest local and national news about the Maryland Food Bank and how we’re addressing hunger in our communities.
