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Maryland Food Bank Makes It Easier For People To Donate

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Getting people who aren't hungry to be concerned about those who are is one of the challenges faced by the Maryland Food Bank.

Now, as Mike Schuh reports, they made it a lot easier for anyone to give.

The drivers at the Maryland Food Bank had better watch out; Tuesday, next to the beans, some of the volunteers were packing bullets.

"We're here to help the Maryland Food Bank," said Ed Lures.

In his day job, Sgt. Ed Lures supervises the 46 troopers at the JFK Barracks for the state police. Tuesday brings not the firing line but the food line---and a bit of perspective.

"It can always be worse, you know. As bad as it is out there, we definitely have it better than a lot of others," Lures said.

So he and nine other troopers volunteered.

Next to them are other state workers from the State Department of Transportation.

"Maryland State police and the Department of Transportation will service collection zones---every police barracks across the state and many transportation facilities. We have the largest collection of trucks across the state and once the food is collected, we will put them in our truck and deliver to the food bank to be distributed to Marylanders," said Douglas Simmons.

All the food redistributed because of a staggering statistic.

"In any group of eight people, one of them may be unsure where their next meal is coming from. That's more than 750,000 people across the state. We know that about a third of the clients we serve make too much money to be eligible for state and federal assistance," said Beth Martino.

The volunteers say such work helps them---at the start of Hunger Action Month---to remember to be grateful.

"It's something I teach my kids every day: they really need to be grateful for the things they have," said Mike Tagliaferri.

All State Police barracks and most state highway and MVA locations---66 in all---around the state are accepting donations. For the complete list, click here.

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