The Maryland Food Bank is facing a near-crisis situation. According to food bank officials, donations have dropped significantly over the last several weeks, leaving the food bank’s Baltimore warehouse with nearly-bare shelves.
To help feed hungry Marylanders, the center is asking volunteers to visit www.mdfoodbank.org/emptyshelves, their virtual food bank. The virtual food drive allows the organization to purchase food at wholesale prices, resulting in more food purchased for each dollar spent.
“Summers are typically a slower time of year for food donations but the shortage we are experiencing is unprecedented for recent years,” said Maryland Food Bank CEO Deborah Flateman in a statement. “We are asking Marylanders to help fill our shelves by visiting our virtual food drive so that we can continue to provide food to people in need.”
Flateman continued, “There is no heavy lifting required through the virtual food drive. With the ease of a few clicks of a mouse, we will be able to purchase more food and distribute it throughout our network of more than 800 soup kitchens, food pantries and feeding programs. Please help fill our shelves so that those in need do not have to wonder where they will get their next meal.”
For more information on the Maryland Food Bank’s virtual food drive, contact Rebecca Pon at 410-737-8282 ext. 223 or at pon@mdfoodbank.org.