Programs

  • Food Assistance And Community Support

    THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK (MFB) PROVIDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGH A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FROM THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS TO THE EASTERN SHORE.IN FY22, MFB, THROUGH ITS FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK, DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 49 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED, ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 40 MILLION MEALS ANNUALLY. OUR TRUCKS WERE ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY, DISTRIBUTING DONATED, PURCHASED, AND HARVESTED FOOD TO A NETWORK OF ROUGHLY 320 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT COLLECTIVELY PROVIDE NEARLY 1,200 DISTRIBUTION POINTS WITH MUCH-NEEDED FOOD ACROSS 21 COUNTIES AND BALTIMORE CITY. (SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O)IN ADDITION TO DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, MFB COLLABORATES WITH THESE PARTNERS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES BEYOND FOOD AND ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER SO THAT MORE MARYLANDERS CAN BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE AND THRIVE.THROUGH A FINANCIAL LENS, FY22 WAS A YEAR WHERE THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK'S EXPANDED SIZE AND SCOPE BEGAN TO NORMALIZE. WHILE WE DISTRIBUTED 30% MORE POUNDS THAN WE DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, REVENUES DROPPED, PROGRAMS STABILIZED, AND WE RENEWED EFFORTS TO INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.WE STAYED TRUE TO THE PILLARS OF MFB 3.0, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN-EXPANDING FOOD ACCESS, CREATING PATHWAYS OUT OF HUNGER, AND INVESTING IN ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY & GROWTH-BY COMBINING RICH DATA WITH LOCAL EXPERTISE TO OFFER HUNGER RELIEF TO EVEN MORE MARYLANDERS IN FY22. WE CAN NOW CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT WE ARE AN AGILE, DATA-INFORMED, PERSON-CENTRIC ORGANIZATION THAT IS READY ABLE, AND EAGER TO DO MORE THAN PROVIDE FOOD TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. OUR STATEWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD ASSISTANCE PARTNERS WAS CRITICAL TO HELPING US KEEP FOOD FLOWING IN FY22. MADE UP OF COMMUNITY- AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SHELTERS, ETC.), THESE PARTNERS ARE ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY, GETTING FOOD DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS AND HOMES OF THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. NOBODY KNOWS THEIR COMMUNITIES BETTER, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MFB IS ABLE TO REACH SO MANY HUNGRY MARYLANDERS. IN FY22, THEY HELPED MFB SUPPLY ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 40 MILLION MEALS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 13 MILLION POUNDS OF PRODUCE, IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.THE FOOD BANK REMAINED COMMITTED TO ENSURING ENOUGH FOOD WAS AVAILABLE FOR OUR PARTNER NETWORK USING FUNDING FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES TO PURCHASE FOOD AND DISTRIBUTE IT AT NO COST. THIS CRITICAL RESOURCE ALSO ALLOWED MFB TO PROVIDE FUNDS DIRECTLY TO OUR NETWORK IN THE FORM OF GRANTS THAT HELPED PARTNERS EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES BY PURCHASING REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, AND VEHICLES, AS WELL AS INCREASE THEIR REACH BY ADDING NEW TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS AND STAFF. ALL TOLD, THE FOOD BANK AWARDED NEARLY $14.7 MILLION TO NETWORK PARTNERS THROUGH VARIOUS GRANTS AND FOOD-TO-THE-NETWORK FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN FY22.ADDITIONALLY, MFB CONTINUED TO RELY ON PURCHASED FOODS RATHER THAN DONATIONS FROM FOOD RETAILERS, MANUFACTURERS, OR GOVERNMENT COMMODITIES, WHICH HAD BEEN STANDARD PRACTICE PRIOR TO COVID-19. MFB SAW A 40% REDUCTION IN DONATED FOODS AND FOOD PRICES AT NEARLY TWICE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, DUE IN PART TO ONGOING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, LABOR SHORTAGES, FUEL COSTS AND EVEN THE COST OF CARDBOARD. IN FY22, MFB SPENT JUST UNDER $20M ON PURCHASED PRODUCT, WHICH EQUATES TO 3.5 TIMES THE VOLUME OF FOOD PURCHAED IN FY19. EVEN THOUGH IT TRANSLATES INTO HIGHER COSTS, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO USING OUR PURCHASING POWER TO ACCESS MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD. OTHER MFB PROGRAMS LIKE FARM TO FOOD BANK WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO HELP SUPPLY FRESH PRODUCE TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WITH MANY MARYLANDERS LIVING IN AREAS THAT HAVE LITTLE ACCESS TO QUALITY FOODS, THIS PROGRAM HELPS THE FOOD BANK PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE TO COMMUNITIES THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DONATIONS, CONTRACT GROWING, AND FIELD GLEANINGS. IN FY22, THE FARM TO FOOD BANK PROGRAM PARTNERED WITH 53 FARMERS TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION POUNDS OF HEALTHY PRODUCE TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED. WE ALSO BEGAN SUPPORTING LOCAL PRODUCE PRODUCTION BY PARTNERING WITH DIVERSE FARMERS THROUGH A PILOT PROGRAM THAT OFFERS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE PRODUCE. MFB'S DEDICATED FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK AND STRONG SOURCING PARTNERSHIPS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO MEET THE NEED IN FY22. WE DID SO THROUGH A VARIETY OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT MOVED FOOD IN A WAY THAT WAS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR OUR STAFF, OUR PARTNERS, AND THE MILLIONS OF HUNGRY MARYLANDERS.PANTRY ON THE GO EVENTS WERE PARTICULARLY VALUABLE, WITH MFB DELIVERING NEARLY 10.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO 256 SITES FOR IMMEDIATE, CONTACTLESS DISTRIBUTION TO FOOD-INSECURE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ALL TOLD, MFB PARTNERS HOSTED 2,029 PANTRY ON THE GO EVENTS IN FY22.ADDITIONALLY, TAILORED BACK UP BOXES (BUBS) FILLED WITH 15 AND 30-LBS OF SHELF-STABLE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD- AS WELL AS NUTRITION EDUCATION MATERIALS AND RECIPES- WERE DISTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE, WITH AN ADDED EMPHASIS ON MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LATIN COMMUNITIES, OLDER ADULTS, AND PEOPLE WITH DIABETES. DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, THIS PROGRAM HAS TRANSPORTED, STORED AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 535,000 BUBS TO AREAS WHERE THE NEED WAS GREATEST SINCE MARCH OF 2020.OUR MOBILE MARKET, MEANWHILE, IS DESIGNED TO MOVE BUBS AND FRESH PRODUCE INTO HUNGER HOTSPOTS (OR AREAS OF UNMET NEED) THAT LACK ACCESS TO BRICK-AND-MORTAR FACILITIES AND CONSISTENT RESOURCES WHICH CAN SUPPORT UNIQUE COMMUNITY NEEDS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM'S 107 EVENTS, ROUGHLY 6,106 BUBS, OR 241,660 POUNDS OF FOOD, WAS DISTRIBUTED IN FY22. BUT BEYOND IMPROVING FOOD ACCESS, REDUCING STIGMA, AND PRESERVING DIGNITY, THIS INITIATIVE SOLVES FOR GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES, TRAVELING INTO UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT CAN BE AS MANY AS 30 MILES FROM THE NEAREST GROCERY STORE. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWS MFB TO LEARN AND RESPOND TO THE WIDE-RANGING NEEDS OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS MORE HOLISTICALLY, OFFERING WRAPAROUND SERVICES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.TO ENSURE A STEADY STREAM OF FOOD REACHES CHILDREN IN NEED YEAR-ROUND, THE FOOD BANK ESTABLISHED MFB KIDS, AN INITIATIVE THAT INCLUDES THE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM, THE SUPPER CLUB PROGRAM, AND THE SUMMER CLUB PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM REMOVES BARRIERS TO ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUCCESS BY PROVIDING CHILDREN ACCESS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE AT THEIR SCHOOL, WHICH THEY THEN BRING HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. IN FY22, 178 SCHOOL PANTRIES FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE, IN ADDITION TO 12 SITES AT HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES, DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. OUR SUPPER AND SUMMER CLUB PROGRAMS, MEANWHILE, PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 542,000 NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO CHILDREN AND THIER FAMILIES IN FY22(SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW ON PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS.)
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $75.4M

  • Program 1 [2025]

    THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK (MFB) PROVIDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGH A STATEWIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FROM THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS TO THE EASTERN SHORE. IN FY25, MFB, THROUGH THIS FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK, DISTRIBUTED 52.3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED, ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE 43.6 MILLION MEALS. OUR TRUCKS WERE ON THE ROAD NEARLY EVERY DAY, DISTRIBUTING DONATED AND PURCHASED FOOD TO A NETWORK OF ALMOST 800 COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS. THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK SERVED AN ESTIMATED 1,021,729 NEIGHBORS IN FY25, ACROSS 21 MARYLAND COUNTIES AND BALTIMORE CITY. AT MFB, FOOD IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WE ARE MEETING THE NEED FOR ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND WE ARE BUILDING PATHWAYS TO FOOD SECURITY TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR FOOD ACCESS LONG-TERM. DISTRIBUTING FOOD EFFICIENTLY AND EQUITABLY WILL ALWAYS BE VITAL TO OUR MISSION. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO SOLVE THE HARDSHIPS THAT MAKE PEOPLE FOOD INSECURE IN THE FIRST PLACE, OPENING UP PATHWAYS TOWARD GREATER RESILIENCY. BY WORKING IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS, NEIGHBORS, AND SUPPORTERS, WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE RISING NEED, WHILE NAVIGATING HIGHER FOOD PRICES AND LOWER ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND RESOURCES FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND FOR NEIGHBORS. FOOD ACCESS AND NUTRITION: CHARITABLE FOOD DISTRIBUTION REMAINS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO: OUR STATEWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD ASSISTANCE PARTNERS WAS CRITICAL TO HELPING US KEEP FOOD FLOWING IN FY25. MADE UP OF COMMUNITY- AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SHELTERS, SCHOOLS, ETC.), THESE PARTNERS ARE ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY, GETTING FOOD DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS AND HOMES OF THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. THEY KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES BEST, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MFB CAN REACH SO MANY HUNGRY MARYLANDERS EFFICIENTLY AND WITH COMPASSION. IN FY25, OUR PARTNERS HELPED MFB SUPPLY ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE 43.6 MILLION MEALS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. BUILDING CAPACITY: MFB IS PROUD TO HELP EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS AND OTHER MARYLAND NONPROFITS THAT ARE WORKING TO END HUNGER. GUIDED BY THE EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR STAFF, AND OUR RESEARCH, MFB IS EFFECTIVELY DIRECTING GRANT FUNDING TO BOLSTER THE REACH OF OUR PARTNERS. IN FY25, MFB AWARDED $1.1 MILLION TO 97 COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS THROUGH VARIOUS GRANTS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO STORE AND TRANSPORT FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOOD; EXTENDED THE EXISTING FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK DEEPER INTO "HUNGER HOTSPOTS; AND POWERED ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK TO TACKLE THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER. GRANTEES HAVE REPORTED AN AVERAGE 38% INCREASE IN HOUSEHOLDS SERVED, MEALS DISTRIBUTED, OR POUNDS OF FOOD PROVIDED, SHOWING THAT GRANT DOLLARS FROM MFB ARE DIRECTLY TRANSLATING INTO IMPACT FOR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, IN FALL 2024, MFB BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 200 COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS AT SYMPOSIUM FOR A DAY OF IN-PERSON LEARNING, INFORMATION SHARING, AND SKILL-BUILDING. OPPORTUNITIES LIKE SYMPOSIUM AND REGIONAL GATHERINGS, WHICH HELD QUARTERLY IN EACH REGION MFB SERVES, ENABLE PARTNERS TO HEAR FROM ONE ANOTHER AND FOR MFB TO MORE DEEPLY UNDERSTAND WHAT PARTNERS AND COMMUNITIES NEED, AND HOW TO GROW PARTNER CAPACITY. IN FY25, MFB WAS AWARDED AN EXCITING GRANT FROM WALMART AND FEEDING AMERICA TO EXPAND FOOD SOURCED THROUGH "RETAIL RECOVERY," IN WHICH GOOD BUT UNSOLD FOOD AT GROCERY STORES GOES DIRECTLY TO MFB'S COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS. DONATIONS RECEIVED THROUGH RETAIL RECOVERY REDUCE WASTED FOOD AND, BECAUSE THEY GO DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS, GET NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO NEIGHBORS MORE EFFICIENTLY. THE GRANT FROM WALMART PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT (REFRIGERATED TRUCKS AND PALLET JACKS) AND STAFFING TO INCREASE RETAIL RECOVERY PICKUPS. IN FY25, MFB SOURCED 28% OF OUR TOTAL POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH RETAIL RECOVERY. SINCE 2017, MFB HAS FOCUSED ON INCREASING THE NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF THE FOOD WE DISTRIBUTE, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LOW-FAT, LOW-SODIUM FOOD AND FRESH PRODUCE. IN FY25, 70% OF THE FOOD WE PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED WAS CATEGORIZED AS HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS. MFB DISTRIBUTED 15.3 MILLION POUNDS OF PRODUCE IN FY25, A 7% INCREASE OVER THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCE DISTRIBUTED IN FY24. THROUGH THE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT RAN THROUGHOUT FY25 AND ENDED IN NOV. 2025, MFB SUPPORTED LOCAL FARMERS, WATERMEN, AND FOOD PRODUCERS IN MARYLAND, DISTRIBUTING 3.9 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD AND INFUSING $3.1 MILLION INTO THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, MFB'S DEDICATED FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK AND STRONG SOURCING PARTNERSHIPS HELPED US CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEED IN FY25. MFB'S THREE MOBILE MARKETS VEHICLES ARE "CHOICE" GROCERY STORES ON WHEELS THAT BRING FRESH PRODUCE AND SHELF-STABLE FOODS INTO AREAS OF HIGH NEED THAT LACK BRICK-AND-MORTAR FACILITIES AND OTHER CONSISTENT RESOURCES, INCLUDING UNDERSERVED RURAL AREAS THAT LACK A GROCERY STORE WITHIN 30 MILES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM'S 282 EVENTS IN FY25, 720,810 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS MOBILE MARKET VISITORS TO CHOOSE THE FOODS THEY WANT AND LIKE TO EAT. AT THE SAME TIME, MOBILE MARKET EVENTS OFFER WRAPAROUND SERVICES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THE MOBILE MARKETS HELP IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS, REDUCE STIGMA, AND PRESERVE DIGNITY. IN ADDITION, PANTRY ON THE GO EVENTS HELPED TO GET NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND FRESH PRODUCE DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES, WITH MFB DELIVERING MORE THAN 10 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO 200 SITES FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION. ALL TOLD, MFB PARTNERS HOSTED 1,567 PANTRY ON THE GO EVENTS IN FY25. TO ENSURE A STEADY STREAM OF FOOD REACHES CHILDREN IN NEED YEAR-ROUND, THE FOOD BANK CONTINUED WORKING WITH SCHOOL- AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS THROUGH THE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM, THE SUPPER CLUB PROGRAM, AND THE SUMMER CLUB PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM REMOVES BARRIERS TO ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUCCESS BY PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH ACCESS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE AT THEIR SCHOOL, AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN ACCESS POINT TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IN FY25, 172 SCHOOL PANTRIES FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 2.1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD. OUR SUPPER AND SUMMER CLUB PROGRAMS, MEANWHILE, PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 596,175 NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN FY25. MFB DISTRIBUTED AN ADDITIONAL 261,989 POUNDS OF FOOD TO 19 FACILITIES AS PART OF OUR HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM. PATHWAYS OUT OF HUNGER: OUR FOODWORKS CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR INCREASED ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR HUNDREDS OF MARYLANDERS. FOODWORKS TRAINS STUDENTS IN "LIFE SKILLS AND KNIFE SKILLS" IN TWO LOCATIONS: AT OUR FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WOR-WIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN SALISBURY. REACHING THE 15TH YEAR OF THE PROGRAM IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, 87 GRADUATES WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE A REWARDING CAREER AND CULINARY SUCCESS IN FY25-NEARLY A 30% INCREASE FROM FY24. FOODWORKS GRADUATES ALSO ACCESS PROFESSIONAL SKILL-BUILDING AND CAREER SERVICES; DURING FY25, THE FOODWORKS TEAM LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE PROVIDING MORE ROBUST CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR ALUMNI FROM ALL COHORTS. MFB'S COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS PROVIDES ANOTHER WAY FOR ASPIRING LEADERS TO GAIN SKILLS AND EARN AN INCOME, WHILE HELPING THEIR NEIGHBORS GAIN ACCESS TO AVAILABLE FEDERAL AND STATE BENEFITS, LIKE THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), HEALTH CARE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS FOR COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUCH AS HOUSING, CHILDCARE, AND PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE. FY25, MFB TRAINED 11 COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS TO GUIDE NEIGHBORS THROUGH FOOD BENEFITS ENROLLMENT, HELPING 476 NEIGHBORS ENROLL IN SNAP. (SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW ON PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS.)
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $94M