Volunteers help feed hundreds of people in need

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. – More than 6,000 pounds of food are now in the hands of families in need across Worcester County.

On Wednesday, people in need found help at the Samaritan Shelter in Pocomoke thanks to the Maryland Food Bank and the Salvation Army Lower Eastern Shore and their March Food Drop.

Organizers say it is a chance to give out fresh vegetables, water, canned foods and meat to those who need it most.

“For a lot of them they receive very low food stamps, especially our seniors, so this is a big help for them to be able to come and be able to get food to supplement,” said Shelly Daniels, director at the Samaritan Shelter.

Shelly Daniels tells us this is a critical time of year for many families across the shore.

“In the wintertime, there’s not much work, whereas in the summertime there’s a lot more employment for people, so we serve more people in the winter months with our food pantries with our soup kitchen,” said Daniels.

Some people say finding the help they need is tough and that things like a disability make it all a lot harder.

“I can’t lift my arm up any further than this and I can’t stand more than 20 minutes at a time without my foot really hurting and I can’t get a job that way and I can get an office job, but those are few and far between here on the shore,” said Karen Riback.

But despite all obstacles, we are told organizations like the Samaritan Shelter help make all the difference.

“This shelter having someplace where people can go where they’re off the streets helps and then the food drives that they have, it really helps the people,” said Riback.

There will be more food drives like this one throughout the month of March.

There will be another event on March 18th in Snow Hill at Bird Park. For more information, click here.