$4.3 Million in Philanthropic Dollars Support Food Access Across Maryland

As Maryland continues to confront the deepening impacts of the nationwide disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to federal funding delays and policy changes related to H.R. 1, food assistance organizations are reporting historic increases in demand.

SNAP serves more than 680,000 Marylanders, including nearly 270,000 children,128,705 people with disabilities,121,615 seniors, and 28,843 people who are unhoused. On average, providing $180 in monthly benefits per recipient.

SNAP eligibility rules are changing. As a result, many Marylanders will face increased barriers to access support and likely smaller benefit amounts which will make it harder to purchase food and feed their families.

In the last two months, Maryland Philanthropy Network members and partners coordinated $4.3M in additional funding to support statewide food access to help meet the increased demand and changes in services.

Roughly half of the amount is direct support to the Maryland Food Bank and Capital Area Food Bank. Grants were also made to community-based organizations and community action councils that provide food assistance. Grants are supporting general operating expenses, expanding community food distribution efforts, providing cash assistance to families, and bolstering relief funds.

From the information gathered to date, we are proud that collective action is supporting Marylanders across the state in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Western Maryland, and on the Eastern Shore.

We acknowledge the following philanthropic entities for their generosity: Baltimore Community Foundation, Baltimore Food Policy Funders, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Community Foundation of Frederick County, Community Foundation of Howard County, Community Trust Foundation, The Judi and Steven B. Fader Foundation, Greater Washington Community Foundation, Horizon Foundation, and The Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust.

As the landscape of food security programs continues to change, unity becomes our greatest strength. By coordinating support, funders are helping to fill gaps more efficiently, stretch resources farther, and ensure every Maryland household touched by the SNAP crisis has a place to turn.