Anne Arundel County Food Bank Inc

The mission of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank (AACFB) is to fight hunger ensuring that all those in need have access to food, nutritional supplements, baby food, and pet food. Other purposes include promoting self-sufficiency providing basic necessities such as toiletries, household items, school supplies, and diapers (adult and children). In addition, the AACFB collects data on hunger and assists other non-profits that share our mission.

THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FOOD BANK IS THE ONLY FREE MULTI-PURPOSE AGENCY IN MARYLAND THAT PROVIDES FOOD, NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE, VEHICLES, APPLIANCES, AND MORE TO THOSE IN NEED. TO ENSURE ALL AREAS IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY ARE COVERED, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, WE OFFER OUR SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE. WE WORK ALONGSIDE LOCAL COUNTY, COMMUNITY, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS NEEDS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SERVICE COORDINATION, CRISIS RESPONSE, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER, PERSONAL PUPIL WORKERS OF A.A. PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DEPARTMENT OF AGING, COMMUNITY ACTION, ORDINANCE ROAD DETENTION CENTER, RED CROSS, AND OTHERS. TODAY, WE CONTINUE OUR MISSION, WHILE SEEKING ADDITIONAL WAYS THAT WE CAN SERVE THOSE IN NEED. LAST YEAR ALMOST 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FOOD AND BASIC NECESSITIES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. AMONG THESE ITEMS INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF 250,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE IN FY18. SO FAR, THESE FISCAL EFFORTS HAVE INCREASED AND INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 300 BIKES TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN IN SUPPORT OF OUR HEALTHY LIVING INITIATIVE. OUR PANTRIES ASSISTED ALMOST 60,000 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS. OUR ONSITE FEEDING PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 1/2 MILLION NUTRITIOUS MEALS. OUR BACKPACK PROGRAM ASSISTS OVER 5,000 STUDENTS WEEKLY. MEDICAL LOAN PROGRAM ASSISTED OVER 2,500 INDIVIDUALS IN FY18. HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ASSISTED 13,000 INDIVIDUALS. IN ADDITION, BY PROVIDING THESE SERVICES FOR FREE UNLIKE OTHER FOOD BANKS, THIS ENSURES FOOD AVAILABILITY ACROSS ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS MOST IMPOVERISHED. SENIOR PANTRIES WERE OPENED THROUGHOUT AA COUNTY AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ALICE REPORT REPORTING THAT 41% OF SENIOR HOUSEHOLDS HAD INCOME BELOW THE ALICE THRESHOLD AND INCREASED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT REQUESTS AMONGST OUR PARTICIPANTS. THIS PROGRAM HAS SHOWN ALMOST 60% GROWTH FROM THE FIRST QUARTER TO THE SECOND QUARTER AND HAS ASSISTED 500 HOUSEHOLDS. A GOAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS ARE PLANNED THROUGHOUT ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY THIS YEAR. IN RESPONSE TO FOOD LINK CLOSING LAST YEAR THE AACFB INCREASED BABY PANTRIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTHY START TO HELP SECURE EVERYTHING NEEDED TO HELP AN INFANT GROW AND THRIVE SUCH AS BABY FOOD, DIAPERS, WIPES AND INFANT ESSENTIALS SUCH AS CAR SEATS, CRIBS, STROLLERS, AND MORE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. THIS PROGRAM HAS SHOWN ALMOST 50% GROWTH FROM THE FIRST QUARTER TO THE SECOND QUARTER AND HAS ASSISTED 120 HOUSEHOLDS.CLOTHING PANTRIES OFFER CLOTHING, SHOES, BELTS, UNDERWEAR, SOCKS AND MORE. LAST YEAR ALMOST $300,000 WORTH OF CLOTHING WAS DISTRIBUTED. THIS YEAR PERMANENT CLOTHING PANTRIES WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT RESOURCES FOR THOSE IN NEED. PET PANTRIES ARE ANOTHER NEW PROGRAM LAST YEAR WHICH PROVIDE NEEDED PET FOOD, TOYS, KITTY LITTER AND PET BEDDING MATERIAL SO THAT OUR CLIENTS CAN KEEP THEIR BELOVED PETS. SO FAR, THIS YEAR 500 PETS WERE ASSISTED. POP-UP PANTRIES ARE EVENTS THAT DISTRIBUTE PRODUCE, BREAD AND PASTRIES AS WELL AS NONFOOD ESSENTIAL AROUND THE COUNTY. THIS HELPS US TO ACCEPT AS MANY PERISHABLES AND PRODUCE DONATIONS AS ARE AVAILABLE AND ENSURE THEY GET INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE IN NEED WHILE THEY ARE FRESH. THIS IS A PART OF OUR HEALTHY LIVING INITIATIVE AND HELPS FIGHT OBESITY AND ALL THE NEGATIVE HEALTH CONDITIONS EATING UNHEALTHY BRINGS.