Teaming up to fight hunger on the Eastern Shore

As summer winds down and school settles in,  the Maryland Food Bank is hoping to bring awareness to a prevalent issue on Delmarva. According to the food bank, hunger is impacting one in seven individuals on the Eastern Shore. And since September is Hunger Action Month, they’ve teamed up with Maryland state officials to get the word out in the community.

Managing director for the Food Bank on the Eastern Shore Jennifer Small says, “Today were trying to keep hunger at the forefront this month as September is hunger action month. We’re really trying to raise awareness about what hunger means what it looks like in our communities,”

She tells 47 ABC that this transition period from summer to fall is crucial for families. Kids should be getting three meals a day to fuel their development.

“We know all school is important and education is important and a child who’s hungry is not going to concentrate, not going to be able to learn and not going to be able to apply themselves and that is our message in hunger action month,” says Small.

And Small knows firsthand how hard it can be to provide for your kids.

“I was there before, I was a single mother I had a one year old child. I had a career position that had me traveling and I really had to change a lifestyle and when I did that and went to change careers funding became an issue,” reveals Small.

She says that’s exactly what we’re seeing these days as well. 80 percent of Eastern Shore residents who are food insecure make just over the federal guidelines for receiving government support, so they don’t receive it.

That’s why the food bank is doing events like Friday’s Stuff A Truck with Maryland State Police and the Department of Transportation. They are teaming up against hunger trying to fill a State Highway vehicle with nonperishable foods.

“We don’t want to see anyone go hungry over the holidays or any time of the year for that matter. So we’re just trying to take in as many donations as possible to help out the Maryland Food Bank also to keep it local,” explains Lt. Ryan Bricker of Maryland State Police.

The Maryland Food Bank is doing events like this the entire month of September. The hope is to help as many local children and families as possible so no one has to go without a meal.