Mobile Market Helps Fight Food Insecurity in Rural Wicomico County

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — The Maryland Food Bank’s Mobile Market was in Bivalve, where officials discussed the importance of bringing a pantry on wheels to rural communities.

Food insecurity is becoming a growing problem on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where many communities are spread across rural areas. The Maryland Food Bank’s Mobile Market is working to combat that by bringing fresh food directly to people who need it.

Eastern Shore Mobile Market Manager Ian Ferguson said the Mobile Market fills gaps in areas without affiliated food pantries. “That is basically a pantry on wheels. We go in between where there’s not pantries that are affiliate with us, and we get right out into the community and kind of catch that area that is being missed.”

The Maryland Food Bank partnered with the Perdue Foundation in 2020 to launch the Mobile Market. Perdue Foundation Executive Director Kim Nechay said the market delivers not only food, but also hope, to neighbors across the Eastern Shore.

“It’s been on the road for years but being able to participate on a regular basis and see it happening, having our volunteers here, making sure that this produce and things are getting into their hands, it’s just so, so worthwhile,” Nechay said.

For some communities, like Bivalve, a trip to the grocery store can be a 30-mile drive. Combined with rising grocery costs and fuel prices, that distance can make it difficult for families to access fresh food.

“They might not have that ability where they might be paying additional money for daycare, so this is a means of helping them out. But also, for our elderly community. You know, they are often forgotten about,” Ferguson said.

For the Perdue Foundation and the Maryland Food Bank, the Mobile Market is about supporting neighbors and working toward a hunger-free Maryland — something they say is incredibly rewarding.

“Seeing it in action is just so, so, so gratifying. Watching some kids pick out some fresh oranges, seeing some kids scrutinize some cucumbers and make the best choices. There’s nothing better than knowing that we helped deliver that to them in their own community,” Nechay said.

Ferguson said there is still more work to do across the region.

“I touch all eight counties — from Kent County to Somerset County — and I’m always shocked at how, even when I think I’ve kind of gotten into the community, there’s still another community that is in need. So to get the word out about our program, that we’re not just limited to where we’re at. Our goal is to focus on the area, but to make sure the community is aware of the program.”

For more information check out Maryland Food Banks Website.