Patch Food Drive In Prince George's: Give To Feeding America

Bowie MD

30 November, 2020

3:48 PM

Description

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, predicted this would happen as millions of Americans lost their jobs, their paychecks and even their businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic: Hunger is an urgent problem for about 125,487 people in Prince George's County. You can help. Patch and Feeding America teamed last summer to address the growing hunger crisis in America, connecting readers with the organization's 200 member food banks that serve 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, and providing an easy way to donate money to help their neighbors. Now through Dec. 31, we're encouraging readers to make a tax-deductible contribution to Feeding America in the Patch Holiday Food Drive. Every $1 given to the organization buys 10 meals. Some of the food pantries and other services available near Prince George's County are: Upper MarlboroCapital Area Food BankAnnapolisHeritage Baptist ChurchLight House Shelter PantryChurchtonFranklin UMC PantryGlen BurnieHelping Hurting People Rock & Steward Ministry OutreachOdentonRiver of Life Worship CenterRivaRiva Trace Baptist ChurchSeverna ParkACAN Food Pantry Feeding America predicted last summer that 50 million people, including 17 million children, could face hunger by year's end because of the pandemic. Feeding America projects the food insecurity rate in Prince George's County will rise to 13.8 percent in 2020, up from 10.3 percent in 2018. "Due to COVID-19, many Marylanders are experiencing hunger at the holidays for the first time," the Maryland Food Bank said on its website. "You can give your neighbors in need much-needed relief from the physical, economic, and emotional toll of the pandemic by helping provide a comforting holiday meal." Feeding America says that 80 percent of its food banks — or 4 in 5 — are serving more people than they were at the same time last year. With the pandemic worsening during the holiday season, many people who never before worried about how they'd pay for a holiday meal are turning to food banks for the first time. From the beginning of the pandemic in March, Feeding America distributed 4.2 million meals — enough to provide every U.S. resident with breakfast, lunch and dinner for just over four days. In the first four months of the pandemic, 4 in 10 people were first-time visitors to food banks, according to Feeding America. How To Support The Patch Holiday Food Drive Patch has teamed with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you. Related: MD Food Bank Needs Donations, Volunteers As Giving Tuesday NearsMillions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your NeighborCoronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food BankOn World Kindness Day, Close The Meal Gap Have a story idea? Please contact me at [email protected] with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.