Hunger in Your Neighborhood: How Families Fare with Food Insecurity Across Maryland
For a long time, we’ve known that food insecurity has a negative effect on Marylanders. But as we continue to gather more, and take a deeper dive into local data, our research and reports are showing some surprising information about how much where families live affects how much hunger impacts their lives.
Georgraphy plays a role in which of the different root causes (lack of financial resources, transportation or dependent care challenges, etc.) families are forced to overcome.
Our colleagues at the United Way of Central Maryland offer excellent insights into the intersection of geography & hunger, through their A.L.I.C.E. Report.
Food Insecurity –
(noun) A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
Short for Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, the annual study takes a realistic look at the actual resources needed to afford a basic survival budget, which the United Way defines as “the bare minimum cost of household basics necessary to live and work in the current economy. These basic budget items include housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, and technology, plus taxes and a contingency fund (miscellaneous) equal to 10% of the household budget.”
The 2024 edition offers some sobering insights into the challenges of Maryland families, headlined by the fact that 4 in 10 families (39%) can’t afford the high cost of living in our state.
But there are areas where more than half of families struggle: Baltimore City (55.8%), Somerset County (54.1%), and Dorchester County (50.1%).
A Deeper Dive into How Hunger Affects Household Types
Using that ALICE data, we took a look at three types of family households that are common in Maryland, and how families’ challenges differ based on where they live.
- Single Parent (One Adult, One Child in Daycare)
- Dual Parent (Two Adults, Two Children in Daycare)
- Multigenerational (Two adults, Two School Aged Children, One Older Adult)
Our own community partners are seeing an influx of visitors from multigenerational households. In fact, Dawn Glover, who manages relief efforts at Gabrielle’s Place, estimates that nearly 40% of neighbors who come to for food and wraparound services live in multigenerational households.
This table breaks down the impact of food expenses on household budgets in Maryland. Click around to view the data by family types to see just how different hunger is depending on where you live.
Purposeful Programming Provides Potential
Thankfully, donors have powered the Maryland Food Bank so that we can create programmatic solutions that help families in our state navigate the rough waters of food insecurity. Some of these thoughtfully designed programs meet neighbors where they live and work, offering dignified access to nutritious foods, while others provide pathways out of hunger.
Community Partner Pantries
Conveniently located neighborhood-based organizations such as churches, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, healthcare facilities, and other qualified tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entities that can receive and distribute food.
Higher Education Pantries
Much like their K-12 counterparts, Higher Education pantries tend to serve as community resources, providing connections to food and other services in accessible locations.
Pantry on the Go
With the ability to offer relief to between 200-600 families in a single day, Pantry on the Go brings fresh produce and shelf stable goods into areas most affected by food insecurity, and do not have enough community partners.
Mobile Markets
With some of our neighbors living as many as 30 miles from the nearest grocery store, and nearly 2 in 3 self-reporting that they fall below the ALICE threshold (<$30,000) our fleet of Mobile Markets offer a critical nutritional lifeline to food-insecure Marylanders by going even deeper into under-resourced communities.
School Pantries
Often serving as an anchor point for a neighborhood, School Pantries offer stigma-free and reliable access to fresh food for students and families.
Summer Clubs & Supper Clubs
During “Out of School” times (evenings, weekend, and summers) families lose access to school meals, and sometimes school pantries. Summer Clubs & Supper Clubs provide relief through meals, academic and social support, and other services at established community organizations like YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and recreation centers.
Breaking Down Budget Barriers
And for neighbors who do engage with our programming, there is a very real effect on their household budgets. We looked at four distinct types of households that interact with our statewide safety net.
Four Distinct Household Types
- Occasional Visitor: Attends pantries about every other month (7x/year) saving approximately $449
- Monthly Visitor: Attends pantries monthly (12x/year) saving approximately $771
- Frequent Visitor: Attends pantries bimonthly (24x/year) saving approximately $1,542
- Regular Visitor: Attends pantries weekly (52x/year) saving approximately $3,341
And you can see how these savings translate into very real resources for our neighbors in need.
For any household struggling to both pay bills and put healthy food on the table, the ability to have between $771-$3,341 available in their budget can make a difference. But for families who fall below the ALICE threshold, this 3-11% percent budgetary relief can be life changing.
With caring supporters like you, the Maryland Food Bank will continue to innovate and find new ways to help families who struggle with food insecurity. Learn more about how hunger is affecting families in Maryland by visiting our Research & Reports page. 
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.
