Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry, a ministry of Chesapeake Church and affiliated food pantry of End Hunger In Calvert County, is recognized as Maryland Food Bank’s Rural Partner of the Year at their Annual Partnership Conference.
Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry received the award for their innovative programs that serve the hungry in Calvert County while still teaching and encouraging self-sufficiency. In addition, the pantry is used as a model of leadership and excellence for all of Maryland Food Bank partners throughout the state.
“Chesapeake Cares has been a leader since day one,” says Deborah Flateman, Chief Executive Officer of Maryland Food Bank. “With their commitment to efficiency and effectiveness, they quickly progressed from a local church pantry to the guiding force behind a county wide safety network of organizations dedicated to the sole cause of ending hunger in Calvert County.”
Over 10,000 individuals in Calvert County currently utilize local food pantries. Of those clients, 44% are children. Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry has been serving the hungry and neediest residents of Calvert County for over 10 years. For the last four years, they have been the anchor pantry of End Hunger In Calvert County and a partner of the Maryland Food Bank for three.
About End Hunger In Calvert County:
End Hunger In Calvert County is an association of over 50 business and community leaders united behind the idea that hunger can be defeated in our county.

Donating a canned product is one thing; spending hours on a Saturday picking potatoes in a field is another.
Though the former is highly appreciated, the individuals behind the End Hunger in Calvert County could not contain their gratitude on Saturday when more than 100 volunteers came out for the first ever Community Harvest at the Farms of End Hunger in Calvert County.
Throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the majority of these volunteers were outside picking potatoes that will go to the initiative’s 10 partner food pantries throughout the county, the majority of which are based at churches.
Jacqueline Hahn, the director of communications with End Hunger in Calvert County, explained that the organization now owns 11 acres of farmland: Five of the acres were at Spider Hall Farm near the End Hunger Schooner Lane warehouse in Prince Frederick and the other six were at Serenity Farm in Benedict.
End Hunger in Calvert County Director of Operations Cathy Ring explained that since the fields at Spider Hall Farm, where the sweet potato crop was located, were damp, Saturday’s group spent the day at Serenity Farm picking solely white potatoes.
“We’re learning the farming business as we go so we keep adjusting, we keep adapting,” Ring told a group of volunteers on Saturday as they were sorting the potatoes in the warehouse.
Ring explained that for the first three years of End Hunger in Calvert County, the Farms program which strives to provide fresh, locally grown produce for individuals utilizing the food pantries used borrowed space from Kelly Generator and Equipment Inc. in Owings.
“This will be the first year that we’ll be in our own space,” said Ring, continuing that in the warmer months, zucchini, watermelon and cantaloupe will be harvested.
Former state senator Bernie Fowler spent three hours Saturday in the field picking potatoes but said he was there more as a proud parent than a public figure.
His son, Bernie Jr., was one of the first to get involved with the Farms program, Fowler said.
“It’s been a tremendous success,” Fowler said. “They’re doing it because they really care and that’s the Calvert County I’ve known all my life.”
Fowler marveled at the number of people in the field with him.
“This is a humongous undertaking,” Fowler said, adding that the comfortable temperatures outside “reinforce my basic concept that there’s someone better than we.”
Fowler’s wife Betty said she spent the day sorting potatoes inside as she was still recovering from surgery and couldn’t be outside picking.
“I’m in a brace but I wanted to be in here working,” Betty said.
She explained that if the potatoes had any imperfection they were put in a box for any volunteer who might want to cook them at home.
by LAURA BUCK, Staff Writer
lbuck@somdnews.com

Elk’s Lodge 2620 of Prince Frederick and the Spiritualist Society of North Beach (SSNB) raised $1,700 combined for End Hunger in Calvert County (EHCC).
Through their sponsored events, the Elk’s Summer Shrimp Feast, and SSNB’s Annual Charity Fundraiser the organizations raised $800 and $900 respectively by selling tickets with proceeds benefiting EHCC. Though the Elk’s Lodge and SSNB operate with different purposes, they both have the same desire and that is to serve and focus their efforts to supporting local charities.
“Spiritualist Society of North Beach is focused on providing for those in need in Calvert County,” said Nancy M. Roczek, a member of the board of directors for the Spiritualist Society, in a press release. “We hosted our first charity event for End Hunger in Calvert County. We had a great turnout and people donated salads, desserts, and their time to make the event a success. We also had the support of local businesses (Roland’s Grocery and Blondie’s) that donated food items. In addition, Abigail Fransisco School of Classical Ballet Dance Ensemble performed for the guests and together we raised over $900 for this wonderful organization.”
“Calvert Elk’s Lodge 2620 was honored to present a check for $800 to End Hunger in Calvert County at our Family Day Picnic, this year,” said Fred Wiles, the lodge’s leading knight for Elk Lodge 2620, in the press release. “The Elks are built upon four primary principles, one of them being charity. I believe we should take care of our local community first, so I have chosen to direct our focus on supporting local charities this year.”
“One of the greatest privileges I have is working with those who are gripped by need in Calvert County and are compelled to do their part,” said Jacqueline Hahn, director of communications for End Hunger In Calvert County, in the release. “That is what the Elk’s Lodge and Spiritualist Society have done; they truly embody our motto of ‘Together We Can.’ It is a honor to partner with both of them and I believe this is only the beginning because together we really can.”
EHCC strives to create real and meaningful ways for individuals, businesses and groups to get involved. For more information about End Hunger in Calvert County, go to www.endhungercalvert.org.
EHCC is an association of more than 30 businesses, 10 county food pantries, 26 churches and community groups united behind the goal of ending hunger in Calvert County.