Maryland Food Bank

More than 73,000 Maryland senior citizens are at-risk for hunger.  Those 73,000 that are below the federal poverty level, on the economic fringes, or on fixed incomes often face impossible choices such as whether to pay rent, buy medications, pay their utilities, or buy food.  Unfortunately this is the reality for many Marylanders age 65 and up.

To address the problem of senior hunger, the Maryland Food Bank, through a grant from Feeding America and in coordination with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, developed a unique program that seeks to get senior citizens federal benefits through the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they are due for the purchase of food. 

The Maryland Food Bank's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach is targeted towards all individuals over the age of 54 in Baltimore City who may be eligible for food stamps, but are currently not taking advantage of this benefit. Armed with a laptop and portable printer, the Maryland Food Bank SNAP coordinator visits senior centers and senior living facilities and prescreens residents onsite for SNAP eligibility. If eligible, our SNAP coordinator takes seniors step-by-step through the process from beginning to end with the goal of getting more seniors food.  This outreach program eliminates the clients' need to go to the Department of Social Service (DSS) which is often a difficult and time-consuming task.

 Fast Facts on SNAP Participation :

·                    527,000 people in Maryland participate in the SNAP program.

·                    50 percent of all households with adults over 65 have an inadequate amount of food.

·                    46 percent of all eligible clients chose between paying for food and other expenses.

·                    The official poverty level for a family of four in 2008 was $21,200 a year. 

To learn more about our SNAP Program, contact, Tonya Harrison, SNAP Outreach Coordinator, at 410-737-8282 ext. 209