Catherine’s Family & Youth Services: The Right Partner in the Right Place

The Right Partner in the Right Place

At 10 a.m. on a balmy Wednesday morning in June, Valarie Matthews stands at the edge of a parking lot bordering Dupont Avenue with a bullhorn, getting ready to announce to more than 100 of her neighbors (many of whom had started lining up at 6 a.m.) that the first of the bi-monthly distribution events at Catherine’s Family & Youth Services was ready to start.

“Today, we have fresh produce, an assortment of meats, toiletries, diapers, light bulbs to give away, plus resources like Transformation Health Services, because people here are hurting,” said Valarie, who co-founded Catherine’s Family & Youth Services and serves as its executive director.

“You see these 100 people?” she asked. “We’ll help them by about 12:30. Then, since today is the last day of school, we’ll have two more lines like this. Food stamps have been cut, and families are in great need.”

In the Edgecombe community, food takes up 24.5% of most household budgets—nearly 8% higher than the state average. And 44% are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or “ALICE,” the United Way’s language describing neighbors living above the federal poverty line, but still unable to afford the basic cost of living in their community.

Families are experiencing the same challenges statewide. Every day, across the 22 areas we serve (all Maryland counties except Montgomery & Prince George’s Counties, plus Baltimore City), events like the one at Catherine’s are happening, and it’s only possible because of you.

“I’m angry,” said Sean Williams, one of the neighbors at Catherine’s food distribution event. “I’m on disability. just trying to help my family. We used to get almost $400 in food stamps (SNAP benefits) each month, but now it’s down to about $150—do you have any idea how much Pampers cost for my two granddaughters?”

Sean, who often struggles with balancing the need to have food and supplies like diapers with the need to pay bills, has a much different feeling for Catherine’s Youth & Family Service.

I really love this place because they look out for all their people and make sure that we get everything we need. Today. I was able to get chicken, toilet paper, light bulbs, and of course, those Pampers!

Sean also took advantage of the opportunity to visit with Transformation Heath, a Baltimore-based organization focused on mental wellness. “I don’t have any health insurance, so anytime I can get some help like this, I am surely thankful,” he shared.

“We’ve been in the area for more than 13 years and have been coming here to Catherine’s since their inception,” said Transformation Health’s Kelly Smith. “I mean, it’s a no-brainer—Miss Valarie is here with free food, and there’s no reason why mental health isn’t also one of the things people have access to.”

The partnership between the Maryland Food Bank and Catherine’s Youth & Family has been deepening since 2015. What began as support through monthly food distributions has blossomed into a deep and complex relationship that is providing real relief in Edgecombe.

Keeping in close contact with the food bank through Symposium, regional gatherings, and regular visits to our Halethorpe warehouse, Valarie is able to offer new resources from emerging efforts like MFB’s Local Food Purchasing Agreement, which means her neighbors are able to access high quality Maryland grown or produced foods like blue catfish from local waterways.

She also has plans to bring her staff to the MFB’s Education Garden (sponsored by Medifast), where they’ll have the opportunity to learn more about where food comes from and help educate their neighbors about ways to make heathier eating choices.

Without you at our side, building the type of partnership we have with Catherine’s Family & Youth Services would be virtually impossible.