Md. Food Bank Calls On Community To Help Battle Hunger

HALETHORPE, Md. (WJZ)—The first food bank on the East Coast has announced a plan to try to get you involved in its work.

Mike Schuh goes inside its warehouse in Halethorpe to find out how.

A recent survey in Maryland shows that more than half of us know someone who goes hungry.

At a warehouse in Southwest Baltimore, hunger is being battled one meal at a time.

Right now volunteers and donors make this place run, but they had an idea.

"We're creating a movement. Hunger is not acceptable in Maryland, and we need you to help us advance that," said Deborah Flateman, Maryland Food Bank president.

The name: Hunger Action Month, an effort to find more donors and get them to stay connected year-round.

"We are grateful for the support in all ways that we receive to make this machine go, but the fact is that if we're going to actually end hunger, it's going to take many more resources," Flateman said.

Resources like college senior Longte Kuptong, who volunteers twice a week.

"When I was in high school I was a wrestler, and I knew what it was like to feel hunger," Kuptong said. "Everyone should contribute in some way if their heart is in it."

An easy way for anyone in Maryland to get involved is to seek out a state police barrack.

"At all 22 barracks, which are located in every single county in the state, we are going to have an orange banner out front letting people know that they can drop off food. Obviously we're open 24 hours a day," said Col. Marcus Brown, Maryland State Police superintendent.

There is also an effort to spread the word on social networks, and all state employees are encouraged to volunteer somewhere.

"And you know this program falls right into the governor's service for a day program in which all state employees are encouraged to serve for a day somewhere in a charitable way just to move the state forward," Brown said.

The Maryland Food Bank serves more than 27 million meals a year in Maryland.