Fighting hunger on Md.’s Eastern Shore

Despite a slowly improving economy, hunger in America is not showing the same rate of recovery according to a new report.

1 in 8 Marylanders do not know where their next meal is coming from. On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, it’s even more at 1 in 7.

Jennifer Small is the managing director at the Eastern Shore Branch of Maryland Food Bank.

“What that equates to is more than forty-seven thousand individuals and more than seventeen-thousand children just in eight counties on the eastern shore.” Says Small.

The latest numbers from Feeding America’s Map The Meal Gap report suggest food insecurity is a gradually growing problem in Maryland. In 2013, more than 500,000 people lacked access to enough food on a daily basis. That’s a .4 percent increase from the year before. That small percentage translates to about 20,000 people and more than one-third are children.

Small tells 47 ABC those type of numbers are alarming, especially because their food output increased over one-million pounds between 2012 and 2013.   

“Our distribution has more than increased. So when more is going out but more need is rising, we have a problem with how we’re going to meet that need.” She says.

The report points fingers at the lack of economic growth in Maryland coupled with rising costs.

Salisbury University finance professor Doctor Leonard Arvi agrees, but he says the data only takes 2013 numbers into account and notes economic growth in Maryland did increase in 2014 by nearly two percent.

“So, the emphasis should be on making a business environment that is more welcoming, less regulated. That actually encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, so that more people can be put to work and I think the state is moving in the right direction in that sense.” Explains Dr. Arvi.

Experts say that’s one way to potentially turn the problem of food insecurity around. The other part of the equation lies in the community.

Small says the four pillars of donations include food, time, money and voices.

“We’re actually looking into ways that communities can donate their voices and they can go onto our website and actually talk to political forums and really give their voice to educate what we’re trying to do out here and how they can help us feed more people.”Says Small.

The Maryland Food Bank is always looking for more volunteers and donations. For more on how you can help, click here.