Food Bank To Launch Mobile Pantry In Anne Arundel, Promote Hunger Action Month

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD - The Anne Arundel County Food Bank is launching a mobile pantry and seeking support during September's Hunger Action Month.

The mobile food pantry will launch Sept. 18 from the food bank's Crownsville headquarters and travel to two sites in southern Anne Arundel County. The truck will deliver fresh produce, frozen lean meats and shelf-stable foods to communities with limited transportation and shopping choices.

“No one should have to worry about how they will get their next meal,” Anne Arundel County Food Bank CEO Leah Paley said in a press release. “All of our network partners operating food pantries are seeing increased demand.”

The food bank reported an average of 48,000 visits per month between July 2022 and June 2023.

The food bank also said roughly 35 percent of county residents are below the federal poverty level or are employed but unable to meet basic needs like food, childcare, housing, health care and transportation.

“Months of increased food, transportation, and other basic living costs are forcing families to make difficult decisions,” Paley said. “Skipping a nutritious meal should never be a choice, but unfortunately, we know this happens all too often.”

The food bank needs lean meats, fresh produce and infant formula. Shelf-stable items are also appreciated.

These items go to the food bank's network of partners operating free food, baby and senior pantries at 115 distribution locations across the county.

Residents can donate money to the food bank at this link.

The food bank said residents can also help by:

• Raising awareness: Wear orange (the color for Hunger Action Month) and share support of efforts to
  alleviate food insecurity on social media. Tag @aafoodbank and hashtag #HungerActionAACo.
• Raising funds: Invite friends and family to join in the effort by starting a fundraiser to support Anne Arundel County Food Bank or by making a one-time or recurring donation.
• Hosting a food drive: Hold a food drive in your neighborhood, workplace, or place of worship to collect food that will be distributed to our neighbors throughout Anne Arundel County.
• Donating food and funds at local businesses: Himmel’s Garden Center in Pasadena and Homestead
  Gardens (Davidsonville and Severna Park) are collecting food donations and are taking donations of money at their registers.

Additional daily Hunger Action Month challenges are posted here.

Residents can learn more by visiting aafoodbank.org or following the nonprofit on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.

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