Bad Situation May Get Worse for Maryland Food Bank

Audra Harrison, the spokeswoman for Halethorpe-based Maryland Food Bank, said that "it will make an already bad situation worse" if Congress does not extend the unemployment benefits to thousands of Marylanders.

Almost two million unemployed Americans could lose their unemployment checks if Congress does not act to extend the benefits. Congress has allowed the benefits to lapse several times over the past year.

Harrison said the Maryland Food Bank is very concerned that the unemployment benefits could be ending.  

"We don't know the exact impact it will have as of yet," she said.

The Maryland Food Bank coordinates the procurement and distribution of food donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and government agencies to organizations providing free food to the state's hungry, in every county except Montgomery and Prince George's, according to their web site.

The Baltimore Distribution Center is located in the 2200 block of Halethorpe Farms Road.

Most of the Maryland Food Bank clients are the "the working poor and unemployed," said Paula Minsk, Chief Development Officer for the organization.

Minsk said that many of the unemployed now used to be donors to Maryland Food Bank.  

"These people are not the traditional poor and they aren't familiar with how to ask for help, or where to go for help," Minsk said.

Harrison said that the Maryland Food Bank provides emergency food for about 261,000 people every year.  About 44,600 people receive emergency food assistance in any given week.

"We have seen a 25%-50% increase in those in need of help from the Maryland Food Bank over the last two years, since the recession began," Harrison said.

The Maryland Food Bank distributed 18.6 million pounds of food in fiscal year 2010, according to Harrison.  She said that in order to feed all the hungry people in Maryland, the Maryland Food Bank would need to distribute more than 84.4 million pounds of food each year.

Those seeking assistance can call the Maryland Food Bank at 410-737-8282.             

Those wishing to contribute to the Maryland Food Bank can visit their website at:
www.mdfoodbank.org

"We have limited resources already and we are in need of more funds and food," Minsk said.