Md. Food Bank Urgently Seeking Volunteers

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Maryland Food Bank is seeking volunteers to help sort and pack 250,000 pounds of food for distribution.

Food bank officials say even with an increase in volunteer hours, they're having a hard time keeping up with new donations from Wegmans and an increase from other local donors. They say distribution has slowed with the backlog of donations.

The food bank relies entirely on volunteers to sort a mix of donations from food drives and retailers. Volunteers work on a conveyor belt, packing 25- to 50-pound boxes that are available to soup kitchens, pantries and shelters across the state.

Officials say FoodWorks, the food bank's community kitchen, also needs volunteers to help package and flash freeze meals prepared by professional chefs and culinary students.

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