FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 14th, 2020
Contact: Johanna Elsemore at jelsemore@strength.org
Amid Stark Increase in Food Insecurity, No Kid Hungry Provides $1.4 Million in Grants to Maryland Schools, Nonprofits Schools Serving Free Meals
Baltimore, Maryland – As 2020 draws to a close, No Kid Hungry has granted a total of $1.4 million this year to schools and community organizations across the state that are providing free meals for kids during the ongoing pandemic. The investment comes as part of No Kid Hungry’s continuing effort to ensure all children in Maryland remain nourished and healthy.
Across America, families are facing unprecedented levels of food insecurity as the coronavirus has led to lost jobs and wages. Right here in Maryland, as many as 1 in 4 kids could face hunger this year, a drastic uptick as a result of the pandemic.
“With poverty and food insecurity skyrocketing, school meals are a critical source of nutrition and comfort for students,” said No Kid Hungry Maryland Director Ayesha Holmes. “Though many kids are learning virtually, schools have remained a cornerstone of our communities, with hard-working nutrition staff constantly adapting and innovating to make sure their programs are reaching kids with meals during this crisis. We’re so proud to support them.”
These grants from No Kid Hungry help school districts with the added staffing and equipment costs required to expand and adapt their programs to meet increased need and operate safely under these unprecedented circumstances. Since March, No Kid Hungry has granted to the following schools and nonprofits:
- 4MYCITY INC
- Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington, Inc.
- Associated Catholic Charities
- Asylee Women Enterprise
- Baltimore Hunger Project
- Bnos Yisroel of Baltimore
- Bon Secours Baltimore Foundation
- Calvert County Public Schools
- Caroline County Public Schools
- CASA de Maryland
- Cecil County Public Schools
- Charles County Public Schools
- Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation
- Chesapeake Culinary Center/Friends of the Grape
- Columbia Baptist Fellowship
- County Commissioners of Calvert County
- Cross Community
- Cumberland YMCA
- Deep Launching, Inc.
- End Hunger in Calvert County
- Equity4HC
- Family League of Baltimore City
- Franciscan Center of Baltimore
- Frederick County Public School District
- Garrett County Public Schools
- Harford County Public Schools
- Howard County Government
- Howard County Public School System
- Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation
- MANNA Food Center
- Manna House
- Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers
- Maryland Food Bank
- Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
- Montgomery County Food Council
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- Montgomery Housing Partnership
- Next One Up
- No One Left Unhelped Inc
- Outcast Food Network
- Prince George’s County Public Schools
- Queen Anne’s County Public Schools
- Saint Luke Lutheran Church
- Silver Spring Christian Reformed Church
- Small Things Matter
- Sonrise Church
- St. Francis Neighborhood Center
- St. Mary’s County Public Schools
- St. Michaels Community Center
- St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
- Student Support Network
- Thread
- Together We Own It
- UEmpower Of Maryland
- University of Maryland Medical Center
- Washington County Public Schools
- Wilde Thyme
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 4 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.