Baltimore Regional Food Assistance Challenges and Solutions – 2021 Edition

In May of 2020, Maryland Philanthropy Network hosted a conversation about Baltimore Regional Food Assistance Challenges and Solutions. At that time, the community response to the need for food supplements was robust; coordinated by Baltimore City and County government, fueled by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, and executed by a myriad of government agencies and community-based providers. 

Seventeen months later and the projections are that 18.1% of Baltimore City residents and 12.5% of Baltimore County residents are food insecure, with even higher rates of Child Food Insecurity. The need remains, but with Pandemic Emergency-related funding and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments ending in December, community-based food programs burning out and closing shop, and potential decreases in funding for Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers, the outlook is uncertain.

Join colleagues, public sector leaders, and other key players to hear about the current state of food distribution in Baltimore City and County and discuss lessons learned to date and potential solutions, including funding through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.  

We will be joined by:  

Holly Freishtat, Director, Food Policy, Baltimore City   

Alice Huang, Director of Community Services, Division of Aging, Baltimore City Health Department 

Elisabeth Sachs, Director of Government Reform and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. 

Dave Bycoffe, Director of Emergency Management, Baltimore County, Baltimore County’s incoming Food Security Coordinator 

This program is for members and invited guests only. Funders of food distribution programs are strongly encouraged to attend.