Hunger in Unexpected Places: Some Howard County Residents Need Food

By Karen Lubieniecki



The man who called James Smith was desperate. His electric and gas bill had just arrived, and had increased from $106 the previous month to $600. Both he and his wife worked, but the increase meant they would have to choose between food for themselves and their two children and keeping their home heated. Smith, president of the Community Action Council (CAC), said his organization was able to arrange for both food and energy assistance for the family. Unfortunately, however, that call was neither isolated nor unusual.

Rising energy costs mean more families are contacting the Howard County Food Bank for assistance. In addition, energy assistance for many who were previously helped is decreasing. Previously, if you earned 200% of the federal poverty level ($41,300 for a family of four), you qualified for energy assistance. That figure has now dropped to 150%. That's an earnings difference of more than $10,000.



Getting the Word Out

Changes like this, when coupled with skyrocketing energy costs, mean a cascading crisis, with food as the expendable. According to the Maryland Food Bank, nearly half (45%) of people relying on food assistance in Maryland report having to choose between paying for heat and utilities and buying food.

One of the greatest challenges facing organizations like CAC and the many food pantries in the county is getting the Howard County community to understand that the need for food assistance is a real and present fact of life for some county residents. Howard County is one of the wealthiest counties - in the state and in the country - but the need for food assistance persists. Last year (July 2006-June 2007) the Howard County Food Bank and its eight affiliated food pantries served more than 6,000 families with 287,704 pounds of food products.



Sobering Statistics

Who are these fellow citizens? According to the Maryland Food Bank, there are close to 13,000 people living below the federal poverty rate in the county, up from 10,000 in 2000. While Howard County's poverty rate is less than the 9.9% statewide average, this still means that nearly 5% of the county's population lives below the federal poverty level, which for a family of four is $20,650.

According to the CAC, 63.2% of the families it served had incomes below the poverty level. Many are "working poor" - like the man who called, more than one-third (35.6%) were employed. Of those families receiving food, 51.2% were headed by single parent females; 28.4% of families were single persons; 25.2% were receiving Social Security benefits; and 7.6 % were receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits. An estimated 10% of county children use the free and reduced meals program, an indicator that a significant number of children in the community are at risk. Breakfast Boost provides ready-to-eat breakfast items for children in need in one elementary school (Bellows Springs) and two middle schools (Murray Hills, Mayfield Woods). Seniors and the homeless are special categories often needing assistance, and the Howard County food community is particularly aware of their needs.



Support Services

Collaboration is playing an important role in the expanding efforts to reach people who may need food assistance. In addition to the involvement of several faith-based communities, the new North Laurel/Savage Multi-Service Center has been able to tap into many cultural groups ranging from the Hispanic to the Burmese community. Demonstrating the importance of reaching out to these previously overlooked communities is the fact that, at the North Laurel site, a projected 150 clients more than doubled as those receiving assistance spread the word.

Where does the food to support this exploding need come from? The Howard County Food Bank supports its own pantry near Route 108, and eight other pantries are located in the major population areas of the county: Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge and Savage.

Bulk food products such as meat and produce are purchased from the Maryland Food Bank. Temporary and Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides federal commodity foods three times a year. Funding from the state of Maryland, the Maryland Emergency Food Program (MEFP), provides resources to make some food product purchases.



Food Drives

Food drives also provide significant resources. There are five major food drives each year: the Postal Food Drive, Kid's Helping Kids, Boy & Girl Scouts, Neediest Kids and Muslim Council. In addition, there are food drives conducted by businesses and other organizations in the community, as well as by individuals.

Food drives not only boost supplies, but can connect businesses to the human needs within their community. Yet that brings up one of the more delicate issues that arises when people try to donate. According to Smith, the Food Bank all too often has to discard donated food. Why? Because people give food that lacks nutritional value, or which has expired or is clearly unfit to eat. Notes Smith, people reach back into their pantry and pull out cans that have been sitting there for a while. "Would you feed this food to your family?" should be the first question any potential food donor asks.

That said, food donations are welcomed. As the food assistance needs of Howard County residents grow with its increasing population, providing the services and the assistance that they will need continues to be an ongoing concern.



The Howard County Food Bank is a central distribution site for local food pantries which also collect food items. It is located at 8920 Route 108, Suite A, Columbia, MD 21045. Call 410-313-6185 for more information. Persons interested in holding a food drive can contact the food bank or visit the www.mdfoodbank.org for step-by-step suggestions for organizing a drive.

Most Needed Food Bank Items (Note: No glass items, please)

Meat & Protein

¥ Canned meat, ham and chicken ¥ Peanut butter

¥ Macaroni and cheese

¥ Canned stews

¥ Canned tuna, salmon and sardines

¥ Nuts and seeds



Breads & Cereals

¥ Oatmeal

¥ Breakfast cereal

¥ Rice and rice cakes

¥ Pasta



Fruits & Vegetables

¥ Canned fruits and juices

¥ Canned vegetables

¥ Canned soup

¥ Sauces/salad dressing



Dairy Foods

¥ Evaporated milk

¥ Powdered milk

¥ Infant formula

¥ Puddings and custards



Non-Food Items

¥ Diapers

¥ Toilet paper

¥ Plastic/paper plates and cups

¥ Sanitary napkins and tampons



List courtesy of the Maryland Food Bank