“Hunger doesn’t go on vacation” – Food banks gear up for start of school year

DELMARVA – Hunger doesn’t go on vacation; that’s the message that both Maryland and Delaware Food Bank officials are spreading as kids get ready to go back to school.

“Going back to school is just kind of the next season of the year for us, in terms of what folks need and the need that we know exists in our community,” said Vice President of External Affairs for the Food Bank of Delaware (FBD), Chad Robinson. “Thousands of Delawareans struggle with food insecurity each and every day.”

“Folks are really still in need,”

While many families are crossing items off of their back-to-school lists, Robinson says food trumps many of those supplies.

“We attribute that, in some ways, to the SNAP emergency allotments ending back in February. And so, we are seeing about a thousand households a week through our healthy pantry centers in Newark and Milford,” Robinson said. “We know that folks are really still in need, and wanting to get those resources that they need for themselves and their families.”

On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, it’s no different, says Eastern Regional Program Director for the Maryland Food Bank (MFB), Doris Mason.

“Children and families do need to eat all year long. But, we certainly are more aware when the schools reconvene, simply because we partner with many of the schools,” said Mason. “The needs do vary from county to county, and I think the ability of our partner networks vary in our ability to meet the need. But, the need is great all across the Eastern Shore.”

Connecting With Partners

The start of the school year can also mean a clearer picture of where the need is greatest, and just how many are facing food insecurity. Mason says the Eastern Shore’s rural nature adds unique challenges.

“We consider things like transportation needs, and we have our mobile market which goes into some of our more remote communities here on the Shore,” said Mason. “We do have a data team, we have researchers, always looking at food insecurity at the local, state, and even national level. We’re networking with those partners, but we do love our ability to connect with our partner pantries on the ground.”

Come September, Mason says MFB will be meeting with community partners to further clear up that picture. “We do get to hear, directly from them, what those needs look like and what kinds of support they need, more importantly,” she said.

Getting a Clearer Picture

Robinson says the FBD food pantries found in many schools across the First State help to paint that picture for them.

“If the school recognizes that there’s a need or a family talks to the folks there at the school and says they have a food need, there’s immediate access for them,” Robinson said. “We encourage our schools to think about having the pantry open at times where we want parents to be involved; have it open for athletic events, or have it open during back-to-school night or parent-teacher conferences.”

Plus, each year, thousands of children are supported through the FBD’s backpack program, says Robinson.

“That creates an opportunity as well to identify families,” he said. “If the child comes into the school and talks through with their teacher, counselor, or someone in the school, they can meet that the backpacks on the weekends. That also might be an opportunity to more broadly meet their need.”

Donate or Volunteer

Both MFB and FBD say they are in need of helping hands, and donations.

“We have not seen food donations come back [to pre-pandemic levels],” said Robinson. “So, we definitely want to let folks know that food donations are always happily accepted at the food bank.”

To support the Maryland Food Bank, click here. To support the Food bank of Delaware, click here.