Letter to the Editor from End Hunger In Calvert County

Dear Calvert County,
Can you believe that it has been seven years since Calvert County was gripped by the vision that we could end hunger in our community? Seven years ago you, our partners, decided that life in Calvert County could be different. That by working together we could help move people from dependency to self-sufficiency in a way that creates and sustains real life change. Well friends, seven years later we are seeing the fruit of your dedication. For seven years you have been about the cause, hunger, owning both the problem and the solution. Thank you.
In 2015, End Hunger In Calvert County graduated its 8th Culinary Training Program session. Nearly 90 students have completed the program and 70% of them are now working. In addition, we launched our pilot Café Management Program adding another opportunity for individuals to learn a skill that lands them a career in the Hospitality Industry. Finally, we expanded our Calvert Cash Program and were able to provided free tax services to 229 low-income individuals. You made this growth possible.
Another victory that is your victory as well, is that in 2015 our Partner Feeding Network grew from 23 to 44 organizations. We can now say that virtually every Food Pantry in Calvert County partners with End Hunger In Calvert County. Together, we are feeding over 15,000 people every year. That is something of which we should all feel proud.
Thank you. It’s truly our honor to serve our community with you. And as we close out 2015 and look ahead towards the New Year, we at End Hunger In Calvert County are grateful for your commitment to making a difference in the lives of Calvert County residents. We already anticipate another great year – together.

Together We Can,

Rev. Robert P. Hahn, CEO

When three square meals are a luxury

By CHRISTOPHER ULLERY cullery@somdnews.com
Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on good things in life, a time to sit and eat with family and loved ones.
According to Feeding America, a nationwide organization fighting against hunger, an estimated 34,840 people in this area might not be as fortunate. For nearly 10 percent of residents across Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, food insecurity is a daily problem.
The Maryland Alliance for the Poor, a collection of nonprofit and faith-based organizations advocating for poverty issues, released its Maryland Poverty Profiles in 2014, which looked at various poverty statistics in each county of the state. In 2012, one in 10 Maryland residents lived in poverty despite its being one of the wealthiest states in the nation. Of those 572,400 people, 13.3 percent were children and 7.6 percent were seniors.
One of the biggest contributors to poverty in Maryland, and the nation, has been the everlasting effects caused by the 2008 recession. As many people’s incomes and futures became uncertain, a sharp rise in participation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program — or SNAP — was seen.
Between 2008 and 2013, Charles County saw a 103 percent rise in SNAP participation; the highest increase of any of the three counties. Calvert saw an 88.5 percent increase, and St. Mary’s had a 77.6 percent increase over the same time period.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, allots a monthly amount of money to help pay for food for people living at least 200 percent below the federal poverty line. In 2014, the average amount participants received in Southern Maryland was $127.39 — that’s $4.24 per day.
This is not a lot of money for food, especially when considering the average cost of a meal in the three counties comes out to about $3.10 per meal, according to the Feeding America data.
Fortunately for many families on SNAP benefits, most people receiving the benefits in Southern Maryland are working. According to a 2015 report released in March from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 85 percent of families receiving benefits had between one and two workers in the household in the past 12 months.
The report examines the entire 5th congressional district of Maryland, which includes parts of Prince George’s County along with Southern Maryland.
Of the 19,357 households receiving benefits in the district, 59.3 percent were households with children younger than 18, and 28.5 percent had one or more person 60 years or older.
And food insecurity is not unique to Southern Maryland. It’s an indiscriminate problem crossing racial barriers, ages and income levels. Only 35.7 percent of 5th district households fall below the federal poverty line, and the median income of participants is $34,332.
The unique problem in Southern Maryland is not related to the availability of programs for adults and children.
Calvert and Charles counties place first and second in the state for percentage of eligible people participating in supplement programs; St. Mary’s County placed sixth. Eligible people are participating in the SNAP program in Southern Maryland at higher rates than most places in the state.
While this high rank means residents in the area are getting more of the help they need, this also segues into the unique problem food insecure residents face in Southern Maryland: eligibility. The three counties of Southern Maryland are among the top 25 wealthiest counties in the nation, according to data from the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The issue in Southern Maryland for the food insecure is that SNAP uses federal poverty guidelines to determine eligibility. These guidelines are completely dependent on the size of the household, so the maximum amount a person can make before they are ineligible changes with household size. A single person ceases to be eligible for SNAP benefits for an income around $23,540 per year. A family of three could only make about $40,180 per year.
The added caveat is the more a participant makes, the less they are eligible to receive. The most a family of three can receive per month is $511 in benefits.
In Charles County, Feeding America estimates there are 16,970 food insecure people, both children and adults. Of those, 56 percent live in households making too much per year to be eligible for benefits. Calvert County has a lower food insecure population, about 7,360, but it also has a 56 percent ineligibility rate. In St. Mary’s County there are roughly 10,510 food insecure people and about 47 percent are ineligible.
The organization says it would take nearly $18.64 million in additional funding to close this gap in Southern Maryland. Fortunately for the remaining nearly 18,600 remaining food insecure residents, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of organization in the area willing to help offer food and other services when needed.
In Calvert County, the organization End Hunger In Calvert County works with 42 smaller organizations, food pantries and mobile food distribution sites, Jacqueline Miller, president of the organization, said in an interview. Most of the people the organization assists, Miller said, are the “working poor,” people working multiple jobs to support themselves and their families. “Because the cost of living in Calvert County is so high, they have a hard time making ends meet,” she said.
Miller said her organization, while focused on ending hunger, is primarily concerned with helping the poor in Calvert County become self-sustainable. “We have found that people do not want to be on government assistance; they’re grateful that it’s there, but that is not their plan,” she said.
The organization serves about 10,000 residents each year and was responsible for the distribution and management of 1.5 million tons of food last year.
Miller told the story of a client she had several years ago who was relocated from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. The client’s husband had died not long before the storm and she found herself in a strange state with no job. At one point, the client found herself in the position of calculating in the benefits she was receiving in her job search.
Housing assistance programs and SNAP benefits go by a person’s gross income, and the benefits are calculated in to that number. Many recipients of both programs have seen one increase, causing the other to decrease. Sometimes, a job that can’t pay a living wage on its own could mean a significant cut in benefits.
Miller referred to it as “the cycle,” and it’s the main reason why her organization focuses on sustainability.
The government, she said, can only take care of so much. It’s the job of churches, nonprofits and other organizations to help with the rest.
Perhaps the scariest element for the food insecure is the uncertainty. Not just the uncertainty of knowing if there will be food to eat, but the uncertainty that the programs they rely on might not be available.
In late September, while there was a looming threat of a federal government shutdown, Maryland Hunger Solutions — a statewide organization assisting and advocating to end hunger in Maryland — sent out a release which stated the potential disastrous impacts the SNAP program could face.
If the government had not made a final action on funding by Sept. 30, SNAP benefits would have been delayed at least weeks.
There were 778,671 SNAP recipients in Maryland as of July 2015.

Exelon Holds Annual Trunk or Treat Event to Stop Hunger

The night before Halloween was a beautiful night for Exelon to host their annual Trunk or Treat Event to benefit the United Way and End Hunger of Calvert County. To gain access families were asked to bring canned foods to support the cause.
With around 500 folks present, the event was a tremendous success. The accolades for the hard work to organize such a selfless community event goes to Exelon’s own Jessica Gryskewicz, Amanda Pellettiere and many others.
Hundreds of eager children filled the parking lot waiting to see the spooky trunks on display and score delicious Halloween treats.
As the families lined up for the start of the festivities, Foundation 4 Heroes cut the ribbon to start the chaos; I mean fun, with the likes of Hawkeye, Supergirl, The Joker and Batman. Although provided a dull scissor, next time The Dark Knight will use a Bat-a-rang or ribbon-cutting laser.
Jessica also volunteers to help Foundation 4 Heroes inspire children in schools, hospitals and visit with Wounded Warriors and their families.
In fact, F4Heroes is bringing over 1,000 superhero capes and masks for the children of 500 plus Wounded Warriors at their USO Christmas Party. If you or your company would like to help sponsor this holiday trip, check the F4HEROES facebook page or email info@f4heroes for more details on how you can help make a difference.
Besides fun and candy, there were prizes given out for best trunk, most original costume, scariest costume, funniest costume and doofy-est. Check out the photos and see what you think. Photos courtesy of Mike Batson Photography.
Thank you to everyone who came out and made this event a great success.
#CNPP #exelon #calvertnuclearpowerplant #f4heroes #hunger #calvert #somd #baltimore #wwp #wwast #washingtondc #washcaps #superheroes #batman #avengers #hawkeye #superman #supergirl #foundation4heroes #mikebatsonphotography #
Dr. Jay M. Lipoff
President/Founder, Foundation 4 Heroes, www.F4Heroes.com
 

Giving where they live

Bayside Auto Group in Prince Frederick is doing its part to feed the needy this fall by giving $50 from every car sale, new and used, in October to End Hunger in Calvert County.
The dealership, which sells Toyota and Chevrolet cars and trucks, hopes to present End Hunger with a $10,000 check at the end of the month to help keep the food pantry shelves stocked and support the ongoing culinary training program.
Bayside President Geoff Wanamaker said the donations by the dealership are in the customer’s name but at the expense of the dealership.
“The buyer gets the tax deduction if they want it,” he said.
The charitable effort is part of End Hunger’s #givewhereyoulive program and dovetails with the Maryland Senate’s and Calvert County Board of County Commissioners’ declaration of October as End Hunger in Calvert County Month. Businesses and government offices around the county are hosting “Feed the Green” boxes where customers and clients can drop off food items.
“Every year more and more businesses join in with us, which is awesome,” said Jacqueline Miller, president of End Hunger. “It shows that our county is owning the solution. Bayside has been a partner with us for the last four years. They’re always finding ways to not only support us but support us better.”
“We like that it’s a local charity,” Wanamaker said. “We like that it makes a difference right here in Calvert County. This is a really good charity.”
Miller said 93 percent of donations go directly into programming such as food purchases, distribution and the culinary training program.
According to the organization’s website, the culinary training program is a free eight-week job training program available to unemployed or underemployed Southern Maryland residents who are interested in a career in the food service industry. Graduates of the program receive national certification as well as free career placement assistance. The last round of classes for 2015 starts Nov. 2. The food charity was created by Chesapeake Church in 2006 to address food needs in the county and to help people become self sufficient, Miller said. The group has distributed a million pounds of food each year since 2013 and feeds 15,600 families or 1,300 per week.
For a list of businesses participating in the food drive go to https://old.endhungercalvert.org/food-drive-businesses/.

Some food stamp recipients may soon see gaps in assistance

By CHRISTOPHER ULLERY Staff writer
An estimated 8,925 Calvert County recipients of Maryland’s Food Supplement Program — better known as FSP or “food stamps” — will be affected by one of two major changes the state is making to the program.
Maryland Hunger Solutions issued a news release at the end of August to alert beneficiaries and retailers to changes in the way the program distributes funds and changes to its enrollment program.
Under the current distribution program, Maryland Hunger Solutions Senior Manager Brooke McCauley explained in a phone interview, the Maryland Department of Human Resources distributes food stamp benefits alphabetically over a 10-day cycle. Beneficiaries received funds on different days, but typically all beneficiaries received funds toward the beginning of the month, McCauley added.
The new system will change the distribution from a 10-day cycle to a 24-day cycle.
Essentially, the change is going to shift the distribution of funds more evenly throughout the month, McCauley said.
People who have last names at the beginning of the alphabet might not see any significant change, but people at the end of the alphabet will be impacted the most, the news release states.
“Things are going to get a bit bumpy over the next several months, but we are hopeful that these changes will be a win-win for everyone involved with FSP,” Michael J. Wilson, director of Maryland Hunger Solutions, said.
Ultimately, Wilson said, the new system is expected to be more efficient for both “beneficiaries and retailers that accept FSP.”
Because of the current system’s focus on the beginning of the month, some grocers tend to stock heavily at these times to meet their customers’ needs, McCauley said.
The organization intends for the switch to help retailers stock shelves more evenly and allow beneficiaries better opportunities to get the food they need throughout the month, McCauley added.
In Calvert County, 8,925 individuals participated in the food stamps program in July, 3,296 of whom are 18 years old or younger. In St. Mary’s County, 14,397 individuals participated, with 5,767 ages 18 or younger, according to information provided by Maryland Hunger Solutions. In Charles County, a total of 18,402 participated, with 7,748 ages 18 or younger.
The switch from one cycle to another will not be without delay for some beneficiaries.
From September through January, the organization expects some beneficiaries to be without food assistance for up to four days.
While Wilson recognizes that a small window without assistance can severely impact the lives of beneficiaries, there are emergency food resources available for beneficiaries who may be without assistance during the changeover.
“Four days can seem like an eternity for someone who is hungry,” Wilson said. “That is why we will encourage people to dial 211 to find out how and where they can access emergency food sources.”
The 211 hotline in Maryland is a 24-hour information hotline to help residents find essential programs such as affordable housing, emergency food assistance and other services, according to the organization’s website at www.211md.org.
The food pantry at the Church of the Ascension in Lexington Park expects to have periods where demands for food assistance will not be met, said Tom McCarthy, senior warden of the Church of the Ascension. The food pantry serves about 200 families monthly, he said, and the pantry already struggles to provide food.
At this point, the church is in the “brainstorming phase” to come up with solutions to deal with the changes.
“I am certain there will be more demand we are not able to meet,” McCarthy said. “… We are confident that with God’s help we will be able to [meet demands].”
Larry Donnelly, chairman of the St. John Vianney Interfaith Food Pantry in Prince Frederick, said the pantry orders its food supply through the Maryland Food Bank in cooperation with other local charities, such as End Hunger In Calvert County. If demand increases as a result of the changes, Donnelly said, he will simply order more food.
“We have a mechanism, thank God,” Donnelly said.
The second change to the food stamp program will be to its enrollment system.
Maryland’s Department of Human Resources is working to transition from the current Service Access and Information Link — SAIL — to a “new ‘MyDHR’ platform,” the news release states.
The change will primarily affect residents signing up for FSP benefits online, but will also impact DHR partners “assisting beneficiaries, training outreach workers and interacting with the agency,” the release states.
More information about the organization and the program can be found at mdhungersolutions.org.
Staff writer Sarah Fleischman contributed to this report.

Calvert Library Partners with End Hunger in Calvert County to Host Book Discussion and Team Building Experience

Event will feature The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and food sorting to be distributed to End Hunger Partner Food Pantries

Calvert Library has partnered with End Hunger In Calvert County to host a book discussion and volunteer opportunity on Tuesday, September 29 from 7-8:30PM at the End Hunger Warehouse in Prince Frederick.
That evening, individuals will discuss The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by James Brown. Following the discussion participants will then experience first-hand the difference teamwork makes as together they sort food items to distribute to End Hunger Partner Food Pantries.
The Boys in the Boat is the book selected for One Maryland One Book this year and the whole state is being asked to read it and talk about it. According to Calvert Library Director Carrie Plymire, “This year’s book reminds me of several aspects of our new strategic plan. The theme of teamwork is the obvious conjunction, but The Boys in the Boat also speaks to one of the community needs that we heard while developing our new strategic plan; a desire to give back to the community. It made perfect sense to partner with an organization who can give our customers a chance to contribute to the community through teamwork.”
“End Hunger In Calvert County is proud to be partnering with Calvert Library for The Boys in the Boat book discussion,” says Jacqueline Miller, president of End Hunger In Calvert County. “These are the type of community connections that make a charity personal for people. The library is giving individuals the opportunity to participate in a practical teambuilding experience in a way that makes a difference in their own community.”
Space for the event is limited to 15 people and registration is required. Recommended for adults and youth ages 14 and up. To register, go to the Calvert Library website at calvert.lib.md.us/events.html and click on One Maryland One Book or call 410-535-0291 (Location: End Hunger Warehouse, 141 Schooner Lane, Prince Frederick, MD 20678).
The Boys in the Boat is a about more than just the 1936 Olympics. It’s a story about the human spirit, overcoming adversity, poverty, hunger, family relationships, romance, and national and world politics. It promises to be an absorbing, worthwhile read even for those who have no interest in the sport of crew. There are other discussions of the book scheduled throughout September and October. Monday, September 14 there is one at the Calvert Library Twin Beaches Branch at 7pm. Tuesday, September 15 there is one at Calvert Library Prince Frederick at 7pm. There will be a discussion and canoe trip on Sunday, October 11 in partnership with the American Chestnut Land Trust. Other related writing workshops and discussions take place in October. Check the library website for details and registration.

Beach Boys Pizza- End Hunger 2015

Beach Boys Pizza LLC team members out of Annapolis & Southern Maryland areas once again stepped up and volunteered to assist the End Hunger of Calvert County’s Foodstock 2015 by sorting, packing, and stocking 7,500 lbs of potatoes, 1,100 lbs of zucchini & squash, 3,300 lbs of cucumbers, and 75 boxes of dry goods in preparation for Foodstock 2015, which will distribute 70,000 lbs of food in 3 hours to approximately 700 needy families right in their community this Saturday.
Southern Maryland Area Supervisor John Kreuter said “it is an honor to help the End Hunger initiative. Our team members talk about this Humanitarian day all year long and despite the heat and grueling work, love it”. Annapolis Area Supervisor Chris Swift, who brought his twin girls to help out said “this is a day where our families meet our Papa John’s family and get to see firsthand what it is like to work as a team and be a part of a bigger extended family. Our team members have brothers, sisters, children & even mothers out there helping”.
Operating Partner Ray Sears said ” it is certainly special when you can “give where you live”; however it is equally special to have such a Team that will give up their valuable time off to volunteer for a local cause and make a presence in our Communities”. I love these guys….. they simply “Get IT”.

End Hunger to host fourth FoodStock this weekend

End Hunger In Calvert County will host its fourth annual FoodStock distribution event from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. That morning, nearly 100,000 pounds of food will be sorted and distributed, free of charge, to nearly 800 local families as well as the organization’s partner food pantries, a press release states. People will receive a combination of fresh produce provided by Farming 4 Hunger and nonperishable food items from the Maryland Food Bank.
“Most people don’t realize that hunger is not a food issue,” Jacqueline Miller, president of End Hunger In Calvert County, said in the press release. “There’s plenty of food. In Calvert County hunger is a distribution and access issue. FoodStock is our county’s united effort to fix that problem. On August 8th, anyone who shows up to FoodStock will leave with nonperishable food items and fresh produce. It’s that simple.”
Calvert County is the 13th wealthiest county in the United States, yet more than 10 percent of the population uses local food pantries, according to the release. On average, End Hunger’s partner pantries serve more than 900 families every week. A complete list of partner food pantries can be found at endhungercalvert.org.
“This is our fourth FoodStock and every year cars begin lining up at [6 a.m.], two and half hours before the event begins,”
Miller said in the release. “FoodStock is [a] reminder to our community that hunger in Calvert County is real, the people it effects are real, and our ability to solve it is real.”
During the week leading up to FoodStock, volunteer teams from Beach Boys Pizza — Papa John’s, S.J. Johnson Inc., Plan B Technology, Bay Wine and Spirits and Dunkirk Walmart will sort and pack food boxes that will later be distributed.
FoodStock takes place at the End Hunger Warehouse at 141 Schooner Lane, Prince Frederick, located in the Calvert Industrial Park. For more information about FoodStock or End Hunger In Calvert County, go to endhungercalvert.org, or call 410-257-5672.

Boat race makes waves, aids local cause

North Beach, MD – The Third annual End Hunger Dragon Boat Festival drew a large crowd to the Town of North Beach Saturday, June 20. The searing heat and threat of severe thunderstorms did nothing to diminish the enthusiasm of 38 dragon boat crews seeking bragging rights to what has arguably become one of Calvert County’s most celebrated sporting events.
The race’s organizers, End Hunger in Calvert County, added to their war chest in the fight to stamp out the sad plight of the area’s economically challenged.
During the day-long event, the many who walked along the bayside town’s boardwalk, visited with the many food and craft vendors, event sponsors along with the rows of spectators who stood at the railing’s edge to watch the races, heard the familiar voice of TV weatherman Doug Hill describing the action and reminding everyone that the fight against hunger was the purpose of the festival.
The night before, the event organizers, racers, town officials from North Beach and Chesapeake Beach gathered at the Boardwalk Pavilion for the Dotting of the Eye and Lighting of the Lanterns Ceremony.
All teams raced at least twice. The top six teams advanced to the finals.
These were this year’s top 10 teams: First place, That’s How We Row 2.0; second place, Swole Patrol; third place, SEIZE THE BAY; fourth place, Yeah Buoy!; fifth place, Renegade Rowers; sixth place, Flow Riders; seventh place, Team North Beach; eighth place, Maryland Pride; ninth place, SJ’s Green Machines; and tenth place, Team ‘Different Strokes.’
While the Town of North Beach’s boat finished in the top 10, it was unable to notch a “three-peat” in the competition for The Mayors Cup. The crew from the Town of Chesapeake Beach captured the cup, besting North Beach by less than a second.
End Hunger in Calvert County President Jacqueline Miller told The Bay Net that the organization netted approximately $75,000 from the event. “We had six more teams than last year and the weather was cooperative,” said Miller, who confirmed a fourth Dragon Boat Festival is planned for June 2016.
Complete results are available on the End Hunger in Calvert County’s Facebook page.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com

Thanks for successful ‘Farm to Table’ breakfast

On Saturday, March 21, the Calvert County Farm Bureau, along with the Calvert County Young Farmers, held its first “Farm to Table” breakfast. There were several goals we hoped to accomplish with this event: celebrate National Agricultural Week by highlighting the production of farms in Calvert County and using locally grown food at the breakfast; raise money for college scholarships and leadership training for the Young Farmers; and promote a farmer connection with the residents of our county. With the community’s overwhelming support, we are pleased to report that the goals were met.
The farm bureau would like to thank our generous sponsors, without whom this event would not have been so successful: Marshall Insurance Co. (Robin Marshall), Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Co. (Carrie Polk), Prince Frederick Ford, Bayside Toyota and Chevrolet, Lusby Motor Co., A.H. Hatcher, Hatcher Feed Supply Inc., 231 Feed and Farm Supply, Calvert Farmland Trust, Charles F. Weber Co., Taney Place Farm, Bill Chambers, CETY Grant, Colonial Farm Credit, Chesapeake’s Bounty and Spider Hall Farm Stand.
The Farm bureau would also like to thank all those who donated products and services, the End Hunger Culinary School students who helped prepare and cook the food and the Calvert Future Farmers of America for serving with a smile. We hope this will become an annual event. So, we would like to call on all farm product vendors. Come highlight your wares next year. We will be in touch.
Susie Hance-Wells, Prince Frederick
The writer is the Calvert County Farm Bureau president.