On June 6, 2006 (6-6-6), when all sorts of evil things were being anticipated, a whole bunch of great things were going on at The Maryland Food Bank in Halethorpe, where Executive Director William G. Ewing held an open house for National Hunger Awareness Day.
A tour of the Food Bank?s warehouse helped demonstrate how the Food Bank gets much-needed food to providers throughout Maryland.
“From source to need, our providers are the heroes who make the Food Bank work,” Smith said. The Halethorpe distribution center is home to a volunteer-run food-sorting area, the William D. Schaefer Marketplace, where more than 900 providers shop, and the biggest fridge I?ve ever seen ? 64,800 cubic feet of cooler storage.
I had the pleasure of lunching with some of the “angels” who run the Franciscan Center on 23rd Street. Brother Finbar Gallagher, who handles the center?s purchasing and transportation, spoke of how important the Food Bank is in helping them provide a nutritionally balanced lunch to as many as 650 impoverished men, women and children daily, Monday through Friday.
“Everyday is like Christmas here” Ewing said. Board members in attendance included Steve J. DeBoy (member of the House of Delegates), Jaime Miller (manager of public affairs for Giant Food) and Robert Smelkinson (retired chairman of Smelkinson SYSCO).
The Food Bank?s mission is this: As long as hunger exists in Maryland, it will strive to supply necessary grocery products to charitable food providers. If you are interested in volunteering, call Barbara Craig, the Food Bank?s volunteer coordinator, at 410-737-8282, ext. 232.
PROUD POPPA AND ROOMIE, TOO
Ravens offensive coordinator, Jim Fassel enjoys what many dads would love to do ? work with their sons. John Fassel ? his son ? is an assistant for the Ravens? special teams. “We eat, drink and sleep football,” Pop Fassel told me. Jim recently purchased a home in Ruxton, and John is his roomie. Dad will get a break from all the father-son time when John heads to Coeur d?Alene, Idaho, to compete in his first Iron Man Triathlon on June 25.
Anne Boone-Simanski is the society columnist for The Examiner and can be reached at [email protected] or 410-878-6131.
