Maryland Food Bank Volunteers Pack Thousands Of Meals For The Holiday Season
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The Maryland Food Bank stresses that hunger is a year-round problem, but the expectation to have food on the table for the holidays is even greater than other times of the year.
Mike Schuh was there during its biggest single event of the year.
It's the volunteer version of whistle while you work: 200 volunteers, a warehouse full of food and a couple of different corporate teams.
As volunteers pack meals in boxes, music blasts in the background. It seems more like an aerobic workout than a volunteer event.
"Well, you know energy in this room is so intense and the music is just reflecting; it's not driving it. People are here and really excited to be a part of the program," said Deborah Flateman, Maryland Food Bank CEO.
It's the food bank's biggest program of the year. A blitz to box up everything but the turkey, so Thanksgiving is happy for the hungry.
"We're all here today to give back to our local community," said Molly Mitzner, volunteer.
"It makes me feel awesome," said Cindy Eades, volunteer. "I like giving to others."
There's over $200,000 worth of food being prepped for the holiday.
Most of the items is donated, but all the food was purchased by the food bank because they needed to have uniform sizes to fit the boxes they bought.
"All the money that's raised through sponsorships pays for the event, pays for the groceries so that these boxes are going out for free to families all across the state," Flateman said.
Some 19,000 meals in all, thanks to donors, the food bank and volunteers.
Teams will meet Friday in Hagerstown and Salisbury to prepare an additional 4200 meal boxes.
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