In a quiet warehouse in an industrial section of Halethorpe, giant jugs of mouthwash, boxes of buttered microwave popcorn and fun-sized cups of applesauce are stacked floor to ceiling.
To more than 250 providers for Baltimore County?s hungry, it?s all for the taking.
“There is no reason they shouldn?t be using us,” said William Ewing, executive director of the Maryland Food Bank. “The more food we distribute, the more food we can get in here.”
Ewing and area dignitaries gathered Tuesday on National Hunger Awareness Day to help promote the banks? benefits to homeless shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens that may not take advantage of them, they said. County firefighters, police officers and employees took tours of the warehouse and helped unload and sort donated items.
Operating totally from donations ? mostly from manufactures who can?t market slightly defective products like mislabeled cereal or dented soup cans ? the bank sells food and packaged goods to hunger advocates for 14 cents per pound and distributes produce for free. Officials said they can turn a $1 donation into $17 of food.
Last year, the bank provided an estimated 350,000 pounds of supplies to county food providers.
“This is one of the most important things we do,” said County Executive Jim Smith, who awarded Ewing an honorary proclamation.
And county hunger advocates said the need for assistance is growing in light of increased natural gas, electricity and fuel prices. Richard Doran, executive director of the county?s Community Assistance Network Inc., said his agency is still helping low-income residents pay their winter heating bills.
And last month, they received an onslaught of assistance requests from 93 people or families who were evicted from their apartments.
“They just can?t pay their rent,” Doran said. “I am dreading this August and September when the electric rates finally hit.”
The Maryland Food Bank by the numbers
» The MFB provides food for 50,000 different people every week and emergency food for 235,100 annually
» Last year, the food bank distributed 2.4 million pounds of fruits and vegetables and 13.6 million pounds of food-industry donations
» The racial makeup of those seeking emergency food assistance in Maryland is 25 percent white, 42 percent black and 30 percent Hispanic
» Nearly half of MFB clients have at least one working adult in their household
» 46 percent of MFB clients choose between paying for food and paying their mortgage or rent, heating costs or medical bills
? Source: Hunger in Maryland, 2006
How to help
» Daytime volunteers are needed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the first Tuesday of the month from 3 to 6 p.m., the second Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and the third Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Volunteers should call 410-737-8282, ext. 232, to schedule a time.
