The Live Out Loud End Hunger Obstacle Run took place on Saturday September 20th at Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown.
That morning, 486 runners took on 2.5+ miles of mud-laden trails and obstacles to prove that hunger in our community can be overcome.
This year’s Live Out Loud Obstacle Run was a new partnership between End Hunger In Calvert and County and Chesapeake Church’s Peake Youth Ministry – a group of a hundred plus middle and high school students. In it’s first year and after expenses, the event generated over $2,000 to help feed hungry families in Calvert County.
“End Hunger In Calvert County’s motto is “Give Where You Live”, and that’s one thing we at Peake Youth want to instill into our teenagers,” says Deborah Bertolaccini Race Director and Peake Youth Staff Assistant. “To not only make a difference in the world, but to inspire them to make a difference in their corner of the world. We want them to understand that when you “Give Where You Live” the lives that you impact are your family, friends, and neighbors.”
“The best part of the morning was watching our teens, the future of Calvert County, embrace the vision of ending hunger in our community,” says Jacqueline Miller, President of End Hunger In Calvert County. “Forty-percent of food pantry clients are under the age of 18. Whether they realize yet or not, our teens are running for their peers!”
The Live Out Loud End Hunger Obstacle Run was used to launch our community into October, and kick-off End Hunger In Calvert County Month.
A highlight of the month is the County-wide Food Drive. Every year, the entire public school system, local business, churches, and community groups rally together to restock the shelves of our local food pantries.
This year, End Hunger In Calvert County is attempting to set a new countywide record and have the largest food drive to date. They will strive to collect ONE MILLION pounds of food in just ONE MONTH.
To accompany the food drive, End Hunger In Calvert County is launching a countywide texting campaign. When individuals text FEED 20222 a $10 donation is made straight to the organization – ten dollars equals 100lbs of food. A running tally will be kept throughout the month.
In 2013, the Better Business Bureau recognized End Hunger In Calvert County as an accredited Charity, awarding us its Wise Giving Designation for meeting all 20 Standards of Charitable Accountability. During this process, they found that $0.93 of each dollar donated goes directly towards programming. When people donate to End Hunger In Calvert County they can do so with confidence!
The Live Out Loud End Hunger Obstacle Run will be an annual event being held at the end of September. For more information about the run or End Hunger In Calvert County Month, visit their website at endhungercalvert.org

I am writing to invite you to a very important meeting of the Calvert County clergy. The meeting is being held on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. at the End Hunger Warehouse, 141 Schooner Lane, Prince Frederick.
The purpose of the meeting is to reunite as the clergy of Calvert County around the issue of hunger in our county. If you were with us back in 2009, you know what a powerful moment that was for our community — when the clergy of Calvert County stood together to devote ourselves to the cause of eliminating hunger in our county.
I know that we are all active on many issues of great social concern, but certainly, experience has shown us two things: We all agree that no one ought to go hungry; and we all have people right in our own congregations who are struggling to pay the bills and keep food on the table.
October is End Hunger in Calvert County Month. A highlight of the month is the countywide food drive. Every year, the entire public school system, local business, churches and community groups rally together to restock the shelves of our local food pantries.
This year, our goal is to set a countywide record and have the largest food drive to date. We will strive to collect 1 million pounds in one month. Together, we hope to not only collect food, but also increase the awareness of hunger in our community.
The real moment of power will be when Calvert County clergy — African-American, white, Hispanic, men and women alike — unite on Oct. 1, as a showing of our continued support and dedication to the cause of hunger — a cause that transcends color, gender, race and ethnicity.
We need you on the team this October. That’s what the meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1, is about. I truly urge you to attend or send a representative from your church. We not only want to share our vision; we want your input as well.
It is time for us to again gather together and put away that which might divide us and stand together, firm in our individual callings, yet united in our passion for the needy of Calvert County.
If there is to be unity, it must start and continue with us — the clergy.
Please join us on Oct. 1. We’ll be serving lunch, and the meeting shouldn’t take more than an hour. I realize that this is a busy time of the year and that this letter comes with short notice. I hope you will be there.
Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 29, at 410-257-5672, or email info@old.endhungercalvert.org.
The Rev. Robert P. Hahn, Huntingtown
The writer is senior pastor of Chesapeake Church and CEO of End Hunger in Calvert County.

The need to feed those in need is an issue that doesn’t appear to be abating any time soon. As the cold weather approaches, some families in Southern Maryland will be forced to find ways to not only stay warm, but to feed themselves and their families. Recognizing this continuing need, the Maryland Food Bank launched Hunger Action Month 2014 this week.
The Maryland Food Bank, based in Baltimore, distributes food throughout the state, but mainly focuses in Maryland’s neediest areas, including Baltimore city and Somerset, Wicomico and Washington counties, according to its website. Citing its statistics, the Maryland Food Bank recognizes nearly 780,000 Marylanders in need of food assistance.
In Southern Maryland, the Southern Maryland Food Bank, based in Hughesville, serves as a hub for the region. Calvert and St. Mary’s counties have 13 food pantries each that work in partnership with the regional food bank, while Charles has 16.
The End Hunger in Calvert County campaign has partnered with numerous agencies in and outside the county to help eradicate hunger locally, and has been successful in its efforts, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in its efforts and distributing thousands of pounds of food to families in the county. It hosts several events during the year, and will be hosting a family-friendly Obstacle Run at Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown on Sept. 20. Details and how to sign up can be found on the organization’s website, endhungercalvert.org.
More information about the Hunger Action Month 2014 can be found at www.mdfoodbank.org/hunger-action-month. More information about the Southern Maryland Food Bank and where to make donations to local pantries can be found at www.smfb.somd.com/.
As we begin to plan for the holiday season and all the shopping and feasting ahead, launching a statewide effort this month to stock food pantries is a wise decision. Now is the perfect time to run out to the grocery store, purchase a basket full of food and donate it to a nearby pantry. We should do so now before we get caught up in driving from store to store, trying to get that perfect Christmas gift or the right size turkey for Thanksgiving. Let’s start the giving season a little early.