I was recently contacted by the Maryland Food Bank in hopes I could post information about their annual food drive on my blog.
Well, I am going to do one better.
Second, I am going to do it the "Hangry Pants" way and run a food drive right here, so EVERYONE can help. (Thanks for the inspiration Heather and Mark!)
For every comment on this post (one comment per person), I am going to donate 20 cents in the form of food to help support this great cause.
Tell me what type of food you would like your 20 cents to go towards in your comment. (Most Needed Items are listed below)
My drive will end on Sunday, March 8th, when I will go shopping for all the food to donate with the money raised.
Being contacted by the Maryland Food Bank really made me stop and think about all that I have to be thankful for. I feel so fortunate and want to take this time to give a little back.
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this blog that allows me to share the things I enjoy and am so fortunate to have - food, health, and fitness! Now, its time to give a little back - so please comment away and spread the word!
The Maryland Food Bank Sees Need up by 50%
You Can Help with the Harvest for the Hungry Spring Food Drive
This spring, thanks to a statewide effort led by the U.S. Postal Service, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, you can help. Drop off a bag of food at your residential mailbox March 7 – 14, 2009 and representatives from the United States Postal Service, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and the Baltimore Area Boy Scouts will come by and pick it up. Post Offices, Safeway Stores, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices will also serve as collection points throughout the week. Donations will be delivered to the Maryland Food Bank.
If you would rather make a monetary donation—checks can be made out to the Maryland Food Bank and sent to: 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road, Baltimore, MD 21227. ATTN: Shanna Yetman.
The week-long drive, a project of Harvest for the Hungry, helps stock the shelves of The Maryland Food Bank, which in turn serves over 900 soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters across the state.
WHAT: Every day brings worse news about the economy. Unemployment rates are up and the stock market is down. The Maryland Food Bank has seen a significant increase in need from its network of soup kitchens, food pantries and emergency shelters. In times of financial uncertainty, it’s important to remember how important food assistance programs are – to our neighbors and even ourselves.
WHEN: Saturday, March 7 through Saturday, March 14, 2009
MOST NEEDED ITEMS: (no glass, please)
MEAT & PROTEIN: Canned meat, ham and chicken; Peanut Butter; Macaroni and cheese; Canned stews; Canned tuna, salmon and sardines; Nuts and seeds; Dried and canned beans
BREADS & CEREALS: Oatmeal, Breakfast cereal, Rice and rice cakes, Pasta
FRUITS & VEGETABLES: Canned fruits and juices, Canned vegetables, Canned soup, Sauces/Salad Dressing
DAIRY FOODS: Evaporated milk, Powdered milk, Infant formula, Puddings and custards
NON-FOOD ITEMS: Diapers, Toilet Paper, Plastic/Paper plates and cups, Sanitary napkins and tampons
NOTES: The Harvest for the Hungry Spring Food Drive sponsors include: The Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America, The Baltimore Sun, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, The Office of the Governor, The Howard County Times, The Jeffersonian, Joe Corbi’s, Morgan Stanley, Safeway, The Towson Times, The U.S. Postal Service, WBAL-TV 11, WBAL-AM 1090, and The Westminster Eagle.
Harvest for the Hungry (HFTH) is a year-round volunteer effort by various corporations and organizations to raise food, funds and awareness for the Maryland Food Bank and its counterparts throughout Maryland. Initially, this effort began in 1986 as a holiday food drive. It was extended because Larry V. Adam, Jr., the founder, believed that “hunger takes no holiday.” In its distinguished 20+ year history, Harvest for the Hungry campaigns have collected more than 28 million pounds of food.
Thanks for your help!
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Shanna was kind enough to give me a tour of the facility and an overview of how everything works.
The most important thing that I took away was that their need is greater than their supply.
They also need more volunteers to help package the donations they have received, so items can be sent to the people that need them, as quickly as possible.
I feel good about the things I did donate,
but know I can do more.
