Maryland Food Bank

The Maryland Food Bank Eastern Shore opened in December 1980, after a year of planning by public and private sector leaders in response to the growing problem of hunger. In our first year we distributed 40,000 pounds of food; this past fiscal year, we distributed more than 3.5 million  pounds of food.

As long as hunger exists in Maryland, the Maryland Food Bank will strive to supply necessary grocery products to charitable food providers so that these organizations can feed every individual and family in need. The Maryland Food Bank will accomplish this by gathering excess donated food and grocery products from the food industry and the general public and by distributing these products to community food providers.

Food is distributed to more than 140 food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, and other feeding programs throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland. These organizations feed and distribute food to homeless, unemployed, and low-income people, as well as individuals, children, and families in crisis situations.

Because most of the food distributed by the Maryland Food Bank is donated, each dollar raised allows us to distribute more than four pounds of food. Most of the food is unmarketable or un-sellable products from the food industry. The balance is collected in community food drives.

The Maryland Food Bank Eastern Shore has a 12,500 sq.ft. facility, with storage for non-perishable, fresh, and frozen foods. We serve more than 140 charitable feeding programs directly.

The Maryland Food Bank is a private, nondenominational, non-profit organization, #IRS 52-1135690. The Maryland Food Bank is a member of Feeding America (the national network of food banks), and the Maryland Food Bank Easter Shore is a recipient of funds from The United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. The Maryland Food Bank is also a recipient of the Maryland Nonprofits’ Standards for Excellence.

Member charities that receive Maryland Food Bank product contribute more than half of our operating revenues through a "shared maintenance" fee. We raise the balance from grants, individual, corporate, and foundation contributions.

Disclosure Statement: A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request. Write to: Maryland Food Bank, 28500 Owens Branch Road, Salisbury, MD 21801 or call (410) 742-0050. Documents filed under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act can be obtained from the Secretary of State; State House; Annapolis, MD 21401 for the cost of copying and postage.

More than 200 food industry companies donate food to the Maryland Food Bank. Section 2135 of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 permits them deductions of cost plus 50% of any appreciated value. Maryland's Good Samaritan Law and the Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provide exemption of liability for those who donated. 

Maryland Food Bank has a Produce Program so that hungry families receive the proper nutrition they need. Because of the perishable nature of these foods, their nutritional value, and the additional storage and handling requirements for our member providers, produce is distributed without a shared maintenance fee.  Maryland Food Bank receives gleaned produce from local area farmers and other Food Banks. This is perfectly edible produce that would otherwise go to waste. Also, America's Second Harvest, with support from Kraft Foods, offers the Maryland Food Bank truckloads of produce from across the country.

Youth Programs- provides and prepares hot meals and snacks to children (in cooperation with a non-profit organization) throughout the Lower Eastern Shore for children who are at risk of being hungry. These costs are attributed to the supplies for preparing the meals,  the value of the donated food used.  The site coordinator, along with volunteers, prepares and serves the meals to the children.  

We could not operate as efficiently without the help of hundreds of volunteers, including corporate programs, local business employees, students and senior citizens, who hold food drives and food collections and offer valuable expertise and advice.