Page 6 - July 2020 Issue.indd

Farm to Food Bank Program

HELPING TO FEED THE HUNGRY

by JOHN P. EVANS III

Entering into its second decade, “In Maryland, we haven’t quite hit “Governor Hogan’s office has been
the Farm to Food Bank program the harvest season, so hopefully state very supportive of the program,” added
farmers will be able to help supply us Cawley, who is the daughter of farmer
sponsored by the Maryland Food
with their local produce,” Cawley added. Charlie Cawley and the granddaughter
Bank has become an important of the late Wayne Cawley, who served
Cawley said food is obtained in three
avenue of donated local fruits as Maryland Secretary of Agriculture.
ways for distribution to local food banks:
and vegetables to needy citizens Cawley said when she started with the

• Through donations from farmers
throughout the state, and made directly to one of three program 10 years ago there were just
especially so on the Eastern Shore. regional food bank distribution two farms partnering with the Maryland
centers (Baltimore, Salisbury, Food Bank. Now there are 54 – about a
With the recent COVID-19 virus dozen of which are located in Caroline
Hagerstown).
aff ecting both the supply and demand County.

of food in the state, the Farm to Food • Through farmers allowing food

Bank programs have taken on a greater bank volunteers to glean their “This program is a win for the farmer,

role than before. The program runs fi elds after the harvest has been the food bank and for the people who
statewide, including Caroline County completed, which means that receive the food,” Cawley said.
and seven other Eastern Shore counties. what remains may be picked. Last year, Maryland farmers contributed
• By purchasing food with funds approximately three million pounds
“Because of the COVID -19 virus, the
need is greater than it has ever been received from grants. of food to the Maryland Food Bank.
to gather and distribute food because Among the fruits and vegetables donated
there are so many more who were peaches, watermelons,
need assistance,” said Amy sweet corn, sweet potatoes,
Cawley, a Denton resident cucumbers and apples.
who grew up on a farm and Cawley said food items such
is in her 10th year as the as bread and other bakery
coordinator of the Farm to items, canned foods and
Food Bank program. “Most protein items are donated by
of us are one paycheck local grocery stores. Perdue
away from struggling and Farms, for instance, donates
thus, those individuals a large amount of poultry
who lost their jobs or were products each year.
furloughed have lost the “We will go pick up the
income needed to provide items from the farm because
food for their families. Some farmers are busy and don’t
may have even had their always have the time to
homes foreclosed. They bring their produce to
need a place where they can Baltimore or Salisbury from
get the food they need but Group of volunteers that picked strawberries the Eastern Shore,” explained
can’t aff ord themselves. Cawley, who added this also
“We are fortunate that we have strong eliminates any cost to the farmers from
“At the same time, many of the stores
support from our farm partners. As transporting the fruits and vegetables.
which donated food in the past have
for the grants, we have several grant
had less to donate for various reasons,” Cawley said Caroline County farmers
writers on hand who do nothing but
Cawley added.“Early on in the pandemic, donate large amounts of produce each

fill out grant applications,” Cawley said.
donations were down 90 percent. Stores year.
“The grants make up most of the funds

have less unsold inventory because
needed to purchase whatever produce “Local farms are big supporters of the
suppliers have sent less or stopped

we don’t get from the first two methods. Farm to Food Bank program. Aft er all,
delivery altogether.
6