Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland Food Bank Launch #HungerHeroes Campaign

Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland Food Bank Launch #HungerHeroes Campaign

May 4, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has left food banks under tremendous pressure to meet the skyrocketing demand of hungry families and individuals. To assist in efforts to feed hungry Marylanders, Maryland Farm Bureau and the Maryland Food Bank (MFB) have partnered to launch the #HungerHeroes campaign.

The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the work that the Maryland Food Bank is doing to help struggling families, and to strengthen the connection between food and agriculture. Maryland Farm Bureau has set a goal to raise $10,000 and collect 10,000 pounds of food donations for MFB through the campaign. A “Hunger Hero” digital badge will be awarded to individuals, organizations, and businesses who have made a donation of at least $1,000.

“Our farmers have been actively engaged in the effort to feed hungry and struggling families in Maryland during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Maryland Farm Bureau President Wayne Stafford. “We’re glad to be officially partnering with the Maryland Food Bank to collect donations to fight the current hunger crisis.”

“The Maryland Food Bank understands and appreciates the critical role farmers play in ensuring our ability to support hungry individuals and families amid this public health crisis, especially as the demand for food assistance continues to surge,” said Carmen Del Guercio, Maryland Food Bank President & CEO. “We are grateful to the Maryland Farm Bureau for creating this #HungerHeroes campaign to collect both monetary and food donations on our behalf and for joining us in the fight against food insecurity.”

Monetary Donations

1. Visit www.mdfarmbureau.com/HungerHeroes.
2. Click “Donate Now.”
3. Fill out the donation form.
4. Share the campaign on your social media using the hashtag #HungerHeroes.

Food Donations

1. Contact one of the Maryland Food Bank offices in Baltimore, Salisbury, or Hagerstown to organize a drop-off or possibly schedule a pick-up.
2. Visit www.mdfarmbureau.com/HungerHeroes.
3. Fill out the “Food Donation Tracking” form with the number of pounds donated.
4. Share the campaign on your social media using the hashtag #HungerHeroes.

Background

• Congress has provided $600 million in the last two COVID-19 relief bills for emergency food purchases, but food banks say it’s not enough given the needs triggered by the pandemic.
• The Maryland Food Bank has seen a 100% increase in demand, with community partners distributing 23% more food despite fewer distribution points being operational.
• 2 million pounds of food were distributed by the food bank in the first two weeks of April.
• Between now and June 30^th, the Maryland Food Bank aims to raise $12 million to fund its COVID-19 Food Access Response Plan.

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About Maryland Farm Bureau
Maryland Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization that serves as the united voice of Maryland farm families. Maryland Farm Bureau’s organizational strength comes from the active participation of over 15,000 individual and family members who belong to the state’s 23 county Farm Bureaus. Since 1915, Maryland Farm Bureau has been committed to promoting and protecting Maryland agriculture and rural life. Maryland Farm Bureau is a proud member of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

About Maryland Food Bank
The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization dedicated to feeding people, strengthening communities, and ending hunger for more Marylanders by partnering with local organizations from the western mountains to the Eastern Shore. The food bank’s statewide network of food assistance brings enough resources together to provide the equivalent of 110,000 meals every day (over 40 million meals annually) to hungry children, seniors, veterans, and hard-working families, meeting the immediate needs of hungry Marylanders while simultaneously working to create pathways out of hunger. To learn more about the Maryland Food Bank, visit www.mdfoodbank.org.

Contact:
Maryland Farm Bureau
Parker Welch
443-480-405
pwelch@mdfarmbureau.com

Maryland Food Bank
Joanna Warner
443-297-5167
jwarner@mdfoodbank.org