Poppleton Community Dinners Serve Up Hope

First featured in Baltimore Community Foundation’s FY2024 Annual Report, this story of Poppleton neighbors coming together over shared meals resonates deeply this Thanksgiving season — a time when many are reflecting on community, gratitude, and the growing concerns about food security nationwide.

Sonia Eaddy is a third-generation resident of Poppleton, a neighborhood on Baltimore’s west side. She remembers its vibrancy, a place with families, recreation centers, a pool, small businesses, and many homeowners. That changed roughly 20 years ago when the city used eminent domain to move people from Poppleton in expectation of redeveloping the area, though that development has yet to materialize. Those who have remained in Poppleton are working to build back the community that was lost. And there’s no better way to bring people together than with food.

Saint Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC) is a pillar uplifting Poppleton, offering after-school programs, summer camps, and community engagement. SLYC is also a convener, working with the local groups to identify and meet needs. The Poppleton Community Dinners program, for example, is run in partnership with the Poppleton Now Community Association, where Eaddy is president. Each month, the association holds meetings to discuss the needs of the neighborhood and hosts speakers from places like the police department and Department of Public Works. BCF provided $20,000 through a grant to SLYC to support the Poppleton Community Dinners program.

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Source: Baltimore Community Foundation