Md. Food Bank Working With Local Restaurants To Help Fight Hunger

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- On any day, one out of every eight Marylanders isn't sure where their next meal will be coming from. That's where the Maryland Food Bank comes in.

Ron Matz reports the organization is now working with some local restaurants on a new campaign to help fight hunger.

At Woodberry Kitchen, they're working on a special dish. Chef Spike Gjerde and his popular restaurant are helping the Maryland Food Bank.

"We've come to understand that what we do at Woodberry Kitchen is intrinsically about feeding people, and there's nobody that does a better job and thinks about that more than the Maryland Food Bank," said Gjerde.

It's called the "Save a Seat" campaign, highlighting the fight against hunger in Maryland.

"We have half a dozen restaurant partners working with us on the 'Save a Seat' campaign, including Woodberry Kitchen. Patrons can come out to those restaurants and participate in the campaign, which continues through the end of April," said Meg Kimmel, Maryland Food Bank.

Every time you order the Gunpowder Farm egg appetizer, proceeds go to the Food Bank.

"We finished this dish with a nice slow cooked egg from Gunpowder Farms. It's a nice appetizer they can have with the rest of their meal, and all the proceeds go to the Maryland Food Bank," said Gjerde.

For the award-winning Gjerde, it's also about making Baltimore better.

"We feel like it's part of our every day existence here to be thinking about ways to feed people the best possible food," said Gjerde. "And the Maryland Food Bank does that in such an amazing way. We're happy to make this small contribution to what's happening there."

Now with the dish, you can help those who might go hungry.

"On any given day in Maryland, one in eight people may not know where their next meal is coming from," said Kimmel. "And that statistic is not changing."

Five other restaurants are joining the Woodberry Kitchen in the "Save a Seat" campaign, which continues through May 1.

"What this campaign allows us to do is to bring attention to the issue. It's kind of a silent issue. People may not know that it's going on, but it's out there, and it's a chronic stress on communities across the state," Kimmel said.

The Maryland Food Bank distributes 120,000 meals every day. You can also text your contributions to the "Save a Seat" campaign.

"People can donate at any time. We have a special text number set up. Text 'Save a Seat' to 41444," Kimmel said.

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