(Baltimore, MD, Monday, March 28, 2022) – As we cross the two-year mark of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to have a huge impact on people’s ability to put food on the table. Daily life has changed for many Marylanders and the Maryland Food Bank has changed as well to keep pace with the need. To put it simply, there are a lot more people who need food assistance now, and they’ll need help for a long time to come.

The Maryland Food Bank’s estimates that one in three Marylanders are food insecure, a number that remains at historic highs.

• This is based on MFB’s Maryland Hunger Map data, as well as their recent Public Perception Survey that indicates 33% of residents have been affected by hunger or food insecurity themselves.
• Maryland was already one of the most expensive states in the nation in terms of cost of living and now, inflation and rising costs are making things worse.

The Maryland Food Bank has been working to combat the increased need for food assistance since the very start of this global health crisis. Their model has changed dramatically, and they are buying more food than ever to respond to this ongoing need.

• Since March 2020, MFB has distributed enough food to provide more than 88 million meals, a 66% increase over the same period prior to COVID-19.
• In FY21, more than $2.1 million in grants was provided to MFB’s network of community partners statewide to support COVID-19 response efforts.

COVID laid bare many of the ugly truths that we’ve known for decades.

• Too many Marylanders don’t have access to nutritious food or simply can’t afford it.
• The role of poverty and race as drivers of food insecurity came into clear focus during the pandemic.

Now and in the future, the Maryland Food Bank is addressing the causes of hunger and eliminating hunger hotspots by:

• Partnering with different organizations to bring innovative solutions like home delivery, Mobile Markets, job training programs, and other much-needed benefits to Marylanders in need.
• Continuing to buy more nutritious food, including fresh produce, and make it available at no cost to community partners across Maryland while providing grants to help them remain open and stay strong.

Now more than ever, Maryland Food Bank has proven that the food assistance safety net they have built over the last 43 years can withstand any crisis. Their expertise combined with a statewide network of thousands of community partners makes it possible to meet the immediate needs of food-insecure Marylanders while simultaneously working to create pathways out of hunger. To learn more about how to support the food bank, go to www.mdfoodbank.org.