By Greg Ellison

(May 14, 2020) Recognizing food insecurity issues have heightened during the covid-19 pandemic, Choptank Electric Trust recently donated $10,000 to support nutritional assistance campaigns operated by the Maryland Food Bank.

Eastern Shore Food Bank Director of Programs Jennifer Small said the financial backing would bolster the Maryland Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry-on-the-Go and School Pantry Programs.

“For Worcester County, this gift provided nearly $1,000 towards food purchases in response to expanded community distribution efforts and heightened demand expected as a result of COVID-19,” she said.

The extra funds earmarked for Worcester County are supporting the School Pantry Program at Buckingham Elementary School, conducted with network partners from Sharing the Harvest and Sonrise Church.

“MFB partners with schools to provide a reliable source of healthy food to families and surrounding communities throughout the school year,” she said. “The School Pantry Program minimizes the stigma sometimes attached to food assistance by offering it in a familiar setting that is already part of families’ everyday lives.”

Small said the program has been run for over eight years in the Eastern Shore, with participating schools employing numerous means to distribute sustenance to children and families in need.

“It helps to provide much needed food to food insecure families, individuals, children and seniors … on Maryland’s shore,” she said.

During the covid-19 pandemic extra effort has been required to meet the Food Bank’s mission.

“As second responders, the Maryland Food Bank is continuing to operate normal food distribution programming, albeit in a customized way, and is working hard to continue core operations amidst this public health crisis,” she said.

Small said the Food Bank has been able to leverage its distribution system to maintain food supplies.

“We’re buying food by the truckload to ensure our shelves and the shelves of our community partners are stocked,” she said.

Other emergency means deployed by feeding partners include drive-through pick up in school parking lots and home deliveries for self-isolating individuals or families.

“Many school pantry coordinators cannot get into their schools due to closures and are creatively working in collaboration with teachers, community members and volunteers to continue to serve children and their families,” she said.

Choptank Electric Cooperative Trust Vice Chairman Tom Terry said the nine-member board approved the donation that would assist approximately 5,000 families in its service region at 14 different distribution points through next month.

“This was an exciting time for the Trust where it could, in a special way, leverage Choptank Electric member Round-Up donations to work with other nonprofit organizations to focus on a region wide major project to meet a critical need for our communities and families,” he said.