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The Essential Guide to Food Bank Donations: What to Give and What to Skip

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Food banks play a critical role in supporting communities by providing essential nutrition to those in need. With the increasing number of people facing food insecurity, donations to food banks have become more vital than ever. By understanding what to donate and what to avoid, you can maximize the impact of your contributions and help ensure that food banks can meet the diverse needs of their recipients.

At So What Else, we are committed to community service and addressing food insecurity. Your thoughtful donations can help us continue to make a difference in the lives of many. Let’s delve into the essentials of food bank donations, focusing on the best items to contribute and those that should be avoided.

Non-Perishable Foods: The Backbone of Food Bank Supplies

Non-perishable foods are the cornerstone of food bank donations. These items have a long shelf life, making them ideal for storage and distribution. When selecting non-perishables to donate, consider the following:

  • Canned Vegetables and Fruits: Ensure they are low in sugar and sodium.
  • Canned Proteins: Tuna, chicken, and beans are excellent protein sources.
  • Pasta and Rice: Versatile staples that can be used in various meals.
  • Nut Butters: Peanut butter and almond butter are nutritious and shelf-stable.

These items are not only practical but also provide essential nutrients. Avoid donating junk food or items with excessive sugar and preservatives, as they do not contribute to a balanced diet.

By focusing on non-perishable foods, you ensure that your donations are both useful and sustainable. For more information on how to support our efforts, visit So What Else.

Fresh Produce: When and How to Donate

While non-perishables are crucial, fresh produce is also highly valuable. However, donating fresh produce requires careful consideration to ensure it remains in good condition:

  • Timing: Donate produce during food bank operating hours to minimize spoilage.
  • Selection: Choose hardy vegetables and fruits that have a longer shelf life, such as apples, carrots, and potatoes.
  • Preparation: Pre-wash and pack produce in clean, secure containers.

Fresh produce donations help provide vital vitamins and minerals that are often lacking in non-perishable items. Ensure that the produce is fresh and free from blemishes or spoilage.

Donating fresh produce can be a bit more challenging, but the nutritional benefits it provides are invaluable. To learn more about our initiatives and how you can help, visit So What Else.

Canned Goods: Best Options for Long-Lasting Nutrition

food pantry near me

Canned goods are a staple of food bank donations due to their long shelf life and nutritional value. Here are some of the best options to consider:

  • Canned Vegetables: Look for options with no added salt.
  • Canned Fruits: Choose fruits packed in juice rather than syrup.
  • Canned Proteins: Canned fish, chicken, and beans provide essential protein.
  • Canned Soups and Stews: Opt for those with low sodium and high nutritional content.

When donating canned goods, avoid items that are dented, rusted, or nearing their expiration dates. These can pose health risks and are often discarded.

Canned goods offer a convenient and nutritious option for food bank recipients. By donating wisely, you can ensure that your contributions are both safe and beneficial. Explore more ways to get involved at So What Else.

Personal Care Items: Beyond Just Food Donations

Food banks often accept more than just food. Personal care items are in high demand and can significantly impact the well-being of those in need. Consider donating the following:

  • Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
  • Feminine Hygiene Products: Tampons and sanitary pads.
  • Baby Supplies: Diapers, baby wipes, and baby formula.
  • Household Cleaning Products: Detergents and disinfectants.

These items are essential for maintaining hygiene and dignity but are often overlooked in food donations. Ensure that all items are new, unopened, and within their use-by dates.

Including personal care items in your donations can make a substantial difference. To understand how you can further support our mission, visit So What Else.

Special Dietary Needs: Donating for Diverse Dietary Requirements

Food bank recipients come from diverse backgrounds and have varying dietary needs. To cater to these needs, consider donating:

  • Gluten-Free Products: Gluten-free pasta, bread, and snacks.
  • Dairy-Free Alternatives: Plant-based milk and cheese.
  • Low-Sugar Items: Suitable for individuals with diabetes.
  • Kosher and Halal Foods: Respecting religious dietary laws.

Donating items that cater to special dietary requirements ensures that all recipients have access to suitable and nutritious food. Avoid donating items with common allergens unless they are specifically labeled as allergen-free.

By considering the diverse needs of food bank recipients, you can make your donations more inclusive and impactful. Find out more about our community programs at So What Else.

Homemade Foods: Why They Are Often Not Accepted

While the intention behind donating homemade foods is admirable, most food banks cannot accept them due to health and safety regulations. Here’s why:

  • Food Safety: Homemade items lack the standardized safety measures of commercially packaged foods.
  • Allergen Risk: Ingredients may not be clearly labeled, posing a risk to those with allergies.
  • Shelf Life: Homemade foods typically have a shorter shelf life and require refrigeration.

Instead, consider donating commercially packaged and sealed foods that meet health and safety standards.

Understanding these regulations helps ensure that your contributions are safe and acceptable. To learn more about safe donation practices, visit So What Else.

Expired and Damaged Items: Why They Should Be Avoided

Expired and damaged items pose significant health risks and are often discarded by food banks. When preparing your donations, keep the following in mind:

  • Check Expiration Dates: Ensure all items are well within their expiration dates.
  • Inspect Packaging: Avoid donating items with damaged packaging, as they may be contaminated.
  • Quality Over Quantity: Focus on donating fewer, high-quality items rather than many that may be unsuitable.

By donating items that are safe and in good condition, you can help food banks operate more efficiently and safely.

Avoiding expired and damaged items ensures that your contributions are truly beneficial. For more tips on effective donations, visit So What Else.

Seasonal and Holiday Donations: Adding a Special Touch

Seasonal and holiday donations can bring joy and a sense of normalcy to those in need. When donating during these times, consider items that can brighten the holidays for families and individuals:

  • Holiday Treats: Festive cookies, candies, and chocolates.
  • Seasonal Foods: Canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, and other holiday meal staples.
  • Gift Items: Small toys, books, and festive decorations.

These thoughtful contributions can make holidays brighter and more special for those relying on food banks. Make sure all holiday donations are non-perishable and do not require special storage conditions.

Seasonal and holiday donations add a special touch and show extra care for those in need. To learn more about how your seasonal contributions can make a difference, visit So What Else.

Conclusion: Making the Most of Your Food Bank Contributions

Donating to food banks is a powerful way to support your community, but it’s essential to do so thoughtfully. By understanding what to donate and what to avoid, you can ensure that your contributions are both safe and useful. Here are some key takeaways:

  • Focus on Non-Perishables: These items are the backbone of food bank supplies and have a long shelf life.
  • Consider Fresh Produce: When possible, donate fresh produce that is hardy and can last longer.
  • Include Personal Care Items: Hygiene products are crucial and often in short supply.
  • Cater to Special Dietary Needs: Provide options for those with specific dietary requirements.
  • Avoid Homemade and Expired Items: Stick to commercially packaged foods and check expiration dates.
  • Add a Festive Touch: Seasonal and holiday items can bring extra joy to recipients.

By following these guidelines, your donations can make a meaningful impact. Remember, every contribution counts and helps us at So What Else continue our mission of supporting those in need.

To make a donation or learn more about our initiatives, visit So What Else. Your support is invaluable in our efforts to combat food insecurity and provide essential services to our community. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to making a difference.

Wyaconda Food Distribution

From Hardship to Hope

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national food pantry

Corporate Groups Giving Back: The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility at So What Else

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On 2/21/24, Supernus Pharmaceuticals came to our wyaconda warehouse to volunteer as a team! Everyone was enthusiastic and eager to get to work and help the community. Supernus Pharmaceuticals was able to work so quickly that we were able to provide 50 bags to the Sligo Community in downtown Silver Spring, 50 bags to the Willows Community in Gaithersburg, 100 bags to Montgomery Village Middle School, 80 bags for the Shady Grove Apartments and 35 bags for the New Hampshire Community in Takoma Park. These beautiful bags had apples, potatoes, spinach, celery and green grapes. 

With the help of Supernus Pharmaceuticals, we were able to provide fruit and veggies to over 300 families with just a few bag drop offs. 

Videos of the group making bags and loading the vehicle with bags are attached below along with a video of students at Montgomery Village Middle school getting ready to distribute our beautifully made bags!

Sepernus Pharmaceutical volunteers helping at the Wyaconda Pantry

 

If you are interested in volunteering with us:

All SWE volunteer opportunities are listed here & signing up is easy! Create your profile and browse opportunities that fit your interests and availability. Please be sure to register for each instance of a volunteer opportunity you wish to serve. For example, if you want to help out at the Saturday Outdoor Food Pantry, be sure to sign up each time (instance) you want to serve. Please note that sign-ups will be deactivated 24 hours before the start of an opportunity. For last-minute sign ups, please send an email to volunteer@sowhatelse.org.

If you are interested in Group / Team / Organization volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@sowhatelse.org!

If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our after-school or summer camp programs, please send an email to vfuentes@sowhatelse.org.

We hope to see you soon!

Key Bridge Collapse Baltimore Baby Formula Drive

So What Else to Support Struggling Dock Workers in the Aftermath of the Key Bridge Collapse

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So What Else is proudly working with the International Longshoreman Union Local #333 to help support the over 1,200 dock workers living in Dundalk, MD, who have lost their jobs due to the tragic Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. These hard-working individuals are receiving little to no unemployment while they wait for the port to reopen and need urgent assistance to help support their families amidst this tragedy. 

In addition to providing vital necessities recovered through our Food Rescue Bank, So What Else is hosting a Formula Drive to collect donations of baby formula, a costly staple many dock workers are struggling to afford right now, throughout the month of April. Interested individuals can donate unused formula or purchase formula on behalf of a family and drop it off at our flagship pantry at 4924 Wyaconda Rd, North Bethesda, MD, every weekday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. 

Not local to the area but would still like to support the drive? Purchase formula online from sites such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc. and ship directly to our pantry at 4924 Wyaconda Rd, North Bethesda, MD. All donations will be delivered directly to dock workers and their families in the coming weeks. 

We appreciate any and all support you can lend our Baltimore community during this difficult time, thank you.

 

If you are interested in volunteering with us:

All SWE volunteer opportunities are listed here & signing up is easy! Create your profile and browse opportunities that fit your interests and availability. Please be sure to register for each instance of a volunteer opportunity you wish to serve. For example, if you want to help out at the Saturday Outdoor Food Pantry, be sure to sign up each time (instance) you want to serve. Please note that sign-ups will be deactivated 24 hours before the start of an opportunity. For last-minute sign ups, please send an email to volunteer@sowhatelse.org.

If you are interested in Group / Team / Organization volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@sowhatelse.org!

If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our after-school or summer camp programs, please send an email to vfuentes@sowhatelse.org.

We hope to see you soon!

unwanted rambutans food recover scaled

Finding a Home for Misfit Food: How Strategic Partnerships and Programs Help to Maximize the Utility of Recovered Foods

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A pallet of rambutans, a gallon of syrup, a 50-pound box of frozen solid chicken legs – like most food rescue operations, sometimes it’s a struggle to find helpful uses for the various food items we receive. Sourcing nearly all of our food via recovery means we have little to no control over the types of items we’re given, and because we want to maintain positive relationships with our food suppliers we seldom turn down a pick-up, regardless of what’s in it. However, this can make it difficult to adequately support our underserved clients if items aren’t compatible with or accessible to them. 

For example, imagine we receive a large pick-up of frozen turkeys from a local meat supplier. While many might see a free turkey as a luxury, clients living in shelters without access to a kitchen would not have the means to store or prepare a large bird. Or imagine that a company specializing in bulk items for restaurant kitchens sends us a truck full of 40-pound buckets of pickles. While this might be useful for a family driving by with a van, for a single individual walking 3 miles to get to our distribution, they wouldn’t be able to carry such a large item, let alone get enough use out of it to be worth the arduous trek to get it home. 

Factors like kitchen access, familiarity with food items, capacity to consume items before expiration, storage capacity at home, ability to carry large food items, access to a car, ability to cook, distance, and reliable access to gas and/or electricity often determine what foods individual clients can or cannot make use of, resulting in some items piling up without any clients to take them. So to ensure food goes where it will have the greatest impact, we’ve made it our mission to find creative uses and partnerships for otherwise “unusable” or “unwanted” food items. 

One organization helping to give “undesirable” food a new life is Shepherd’s Table, an incredible kitchen in Silver Spring, MD. Taking in large, bulk items from So What Else, Shepherd’s Table can create hot meals for unhoused community members in their large production kitchen, taking huge boxes our clients previously couldn’t use and making accessible meals with them in turn. Shepherd’s Table is also currently running a 12-week culinary skills class where community members can learn the skills needed to work in a restaurant kitchen. Now So What Else food items are helping to train the next generation of chefs, instead of piling up in our warehouse.

 

Shepherd’s Table Kitchen in Silver Spring, MD

 

In addition to Shepherd’s Table, the So What Else Food Rescue Bank partners with several other kitchens across the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region that serve unhoused clients- the perfect recipients for many of the “unloved” items we receive.  Rather than give a five-gallon bucket of soy sauce, or a 50-lb bag of rice, or a 20-lb box of soup stock to a single family that couldn’t store nor use them before expiring, we’re able to deliver these items to professional kitchens, supporting the creation of hundreds, sometimes thousands of ready-to-eat meals for families.

 

Bulk food delivered to Shepherd’s Table by So What Else

 

Item familiarity and the ability to cook are also interrelated factors affecting our ability to distribute recovered food items, particularly those sourced from international grocery stores. Picture a local Korean grocery store sending us a large load of seaweed soups, but the labels are entirely in Korean. Not only are the ingredients in the soups unfamiliar to clients, many of whom have never eaten seaweed but likewise, without being able to fully read the labels, many clients opt to leave those items in favor of items they know and feel comfortable with. Or imagine a grocery store sending us a large box of Yucca. To some clients, this is not only an item they’ve never tried, but also one they’re unsure of how to prepare, especially if they aren’t comfortable cooking.

To ensure these items are not wasted, So What Else works with targeted partnerships to distribute products to the communities most familiar with them. Working with Korean, Hispanic, and African organizations and churches, we can provide immigrant and asylum-seeking communities with much-needed resources, while keeping food out of landfills. Further, when possible, So What Else is proud to spearhead initiatives to educate clients on unfamiliar foods and the best ways to use them, such as through the Tasty Thursdays cooking demonstration, hosted by Chef Eli in Baltimore, MD, which teaches clients at The Food Project how to use and prepare the recovered food items they’re receiving. 

Food recovery isn’t always easy, especially when the items we receive aren’t the traditional, packaged products clients can find on grocery store shelves. By finding creative solutions to best allocate resources, the So What Else Food Rescue Bank can ensure no item goes to waste, reducing carbon emissions from food decomposition, all while keeping communities fed and recovery partners happy.

If you are interested in volunteering with us:

All SWE volunteer opportunities are listed here & signing up is easy! Create your profile and browse opportunities that fit your interests and availability. Please be sure to register for each instance of a volunteer opportunity you wish to serve. For example, if you want to help out at the Saturday Outdoor Food Pantry, be sure to sign up each time (instance) you want to serve. Please note that sign-ups will be deactivated 24 hours before the start of an opportunity. For last-minute sign ups, please send an email to volunteer@sowhatelse.org.

If you are interested in Group / Team / Organization volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@sowhatelse.org!

If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our after-school or summer camp programs, please send an email to vfuentes@sowhatelse.org.

We hope to see you soon!

Rebrand Press Release Cover

So What Else Launches Bold New Vision for the Future of the Food Program

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For Immediate Release

April 3, 2024

SO WHAT ELSE LAUNCHES BOLD NEW VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FOOD PROGRAM 

Today, the So What Else Emergency Hunger Relief Food Program is excited to announce it has officially rebranded as the ‘So What Else Food Rescue Bank’. Moving forward, all food program chapters and operations, including the Montgomery County, Baltimore, and DC food programs, as well as the Montgomery County Food Recovery Operation, will now fall under the ‘So What Else Food Rescue Bank’ umbrella. 

So What Else began the food program after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with its original intent being a temporary, emergency program to provide food to youth programming participants suffering from hunger as a result of pandemic unemployment. However, in the years since, the program has scaled up considerably, rescuing 68 million pounds of food and becoming a permanent fixture within the organization and the surrounding community. So What Else felt that the program’s name should reflect this change, settling on a title that would make it easier for clients and supporters to identify the organization’s mission and work both online and out in the field. 

With this change, So What Else will begin incorporating a new ‘Food Rescue Bank’ logo in promotional materials related to the program, including team shirts, fliers, online content, and So What Else’s fleet of trucks and vans. However, the program’s operations will largely remain the same, serving food via home deliveries, mobile distributions, brick-and-mortar pantries, and partner pick-ups and deliveries, with the Food Rescue Bank’s flagship location remaining in North Bethesda, MD, and two additional chapters located in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. The Food Rescue Bank will also continue to recover and distribute non-food items, including clothing, diapers, furniture, cleaning supplies, and homegoods. The Food Rescue Bank will continue to accept donations of any of these items and more at any of its current locations. 

 

New So What Else Food Rescue Bank Logo

 

So What Else is looking forward to this bold next step in the program’s development and unveiling the new materials and program designs over the next few months. To learn more about the program, click here.

If you are interested in volunteering with us:

All SWE volunteer opportunities are listed here & signing up is easy! Create your profile and browse opportunities that fit your interests and availability. Please be sure to register for each instance of a volunteer opportunity you wish to serve. For example, if you want to help out at the Saturday Outdoor Food Pantry, be sure to sign up each time (instance) you want to serve. Please note that sign-ups will be deactivated 24 hours before the start of an opportunity. For last-minute sign ups, please send an email to volunteer@sowhatelse.org.

If you are interested in Group / Team / Organization volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@sowhatelse.org!

If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our after-school or summer camp programs, please send an email to vfuentes@sowhatelse.org.

We hope to see you soon!

The Power of Partnership: Faster Alone, But Further Together

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At So What Else, we’ve always believed that collaborative solutions are the key to moving the needle and making lasting changes. Since our founding in 2009, we’ve maintained the core philosophy that we don’t want to “reinvent the wheel.” There are plenty of other nonprofits, NGOs, community organizations, and government initiatives doing incredible work. The world doesn’t need another iteration of the same program; it needs an organization to fill in the gaps, amplify work that’s already being done, create partnerships that mutually uplift one another, and ask charities already committed to this work, “So what else can we do to help?”.

From our youth programs to our food giveaways and even our volunteer projects, our partnerships are at the center of every initiative we embark on. Every ounce of food sourced, every diaper distributed, every classroom filled, and every day of service held is the result of the hundreds of partners working together around the shared mission and values of So What Else. 

Our numbered partnerships often take many different forms. Take our partnership with the Educational Sustainability Mobilization Program at EssentialNow. Committed to addressing poverty and preventing displacement for Maryland and DC residents, the EssentialNow team, led by Eneshal Miller, worked with our staff to distribute free computers at our North Bethesda Pantry every single week for over a month. In a digital era where access to technology is vital for day-to-day necessities and professional opportunities, Eneshal’s support will have a lasting impact on our clients, many of whom have never and would never own their own computer. By distributing computers in our pantry, EssentialNow could reach more clients in more locations, expanding the scope and reach of its impact. By hosting EssentialNow in our pantry, So What Else could offer new resources to struggling clients. By partnering with organizations in this way, So What Else has been able to offer dozens of additional resources and services to our clients, including vaccine clinics, haircuts, blood pressure testing, and more.

We don’t just work with organizations to provide clientele for their resources; So What Else also works with groups to mutually uplift both of our client bases, which can be seen in our partnership with the Personal Care Foundation, for example. Committed to improving the physical and mental health of survivors of domestic violence and their children, the Personal Care team now shares space with us in our North Bethesda Pantry, providing hygiene kits to So What Else clients who have suffered from domestic abuse while bringing out Personal Care clients in need of food and clothing to our pantry. In doing so, we’re able to better support one another’s clients with resources the other lacks, creating stronger, more resilient client communities.

 

Hygiene item giveaway with the Personal Care Foundation

 

Sometimes our partnerships take the form of operational support, creating better, more robust programs for all parties involved. For example, in 2023, the So What Else Baltimore Food Program began partnering with Love and Cornbread, a group working to improve food equity and health outcomes in underserved areas of Baltimore City by providing delicious, ready-to-eat meals and immediate access to healthcare services. By working together, So What Else could provide Love and Cornbread with free, recovered produce, dramatically reducing the cost of food they had to purchase to create hot meals. In return, Love and Cornbread could create additional, ready-to-eat meals for So What Else food distributions where clients had limited access to electricity and a kitchen, limiting their ability to cook with our recovered grocery items. Since the partnership’s implementation, both programs have been a success, allowing Love and Cornbread to scale up their work while making food more accessible to So What Else clients.

 

Distributing hot meals in front of EastView Communities with Love and Cornbread

 

While these are only three out of many partnerships, they highlight the critical value of working together. Giving back isn’t a zero-sum game. We have more to gain by taking the time to work in tandem than by competing with one another for limited resources. We wouldn’t be the organization we are today without the care and support of the many groups that support us. And to all of our partners, EssentialNow, the Personal Care Foundation, Love and Cornbread, and the many hundreds we have not named, thank you for believing in us and putting your energy into our movement.

If you are interested in volunteering with us:

All SWE volunteer opportunities are listed here & signing up is easy! Create your profile and browse opportunities that fit your interests and availability. Please be sure to register for each instance of a volunteer opportunity you wish to serve. For example, if you want to help out at the Saturday Outdoor Food Pantry, be sure to sign up each time (instance) you want to serve. Please note that sign-ups will be deactivated 24 hours before the start of an opportunity. For last-minute sign ups, please send an email to volunteer@sowhatelse.org.

If you are interested in Group / Team / Organization volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@sowhatelse.org!

If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our after-school or summer camp programs, please send an email to vfuentes@sowhatelse.org.

We hope to see you soon!

Tackling Hunger in Baltimore City: The So What Else Baltimore Food Program

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The So What Else Baltimore Food Program was born out of critical necessity. While hunger exists across the many DMV locations So What Else serves, Baltimore has been and continues to be one of the most deeply food-insecure regions in our program. 

Twice as many households are food insecure in Baltimore when compared to the state of Maryland as a whole (St. Vincent De Paul Baltimore). While a significant amount of food resources and funding are allocated to Baltimore each year, it’s evident these resources have only put a dent in the city’s unmet needs, with the Maryland Food Bank’s Hunger Map reporting that over 49,350,000 pounds of food would be needed to entirely eradicate hunger in Baltimore (Maryland Food Bank). Just a glance at the Maryland Hunger Map, and it’s clear Baltimore and its surrounding counties suffer from some of the highest concentrations of hunger hotspots in the state. 

 

Map of ALICE Hunger Hotspots by region (Source: Maryland Food Bank)

 

Map of ALICE Hunger Hotspots by county (Source: Maryland Food Bank)

 

To explain why Baltimore uniquely suffers from ongoing and pervasive hunger, we can look at the historical landscape the city is situated in. Baltimore was one of the first cities in America to institutionalize segregation, enacting a law to codify years of discriminatory practices in 1910. While eventually the law was overturned due to unconstitutionality, it was followed by a series of redlining practices by banks in the 1930s, which led to the subsequent divestment and underdevelopment of Baltimore’s predominantly black neighborhoods (Baltimore Hunger Project). Combined with blockbusting, and later, gentrification, these discriminatory policies are directly correlated with food insecurity, inequitable food access, and food desertification in Baltimore (National Low Income Housing Coalition). Compare any map of food insecurity in Baltimore with a map of historic redlining, and it’s clear that the two are intertwined.

 

Map of current food deserts or “Healthy Food Priority Areas” in Baltimore City (Source: Baltimore City)

 

Map of historic redlining in Baltimore (Source: ABC 2 News)

 

Today, 146,000 Baltimore residents reside inside a food desert, which is over a quarter of the population of the city as a whole (Baltimore Sun). However, some sources believe the percentage of residents affected by food deserts is much higher due to Baltimore’s car dependency and lack of public transportation. In a 2018 report, Morgan State University researchers found that as many as 42% of residents live in a food desert when vehicle access is considered (Morgan State University).

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the issue, resulting in an unprecedented increase in food insecurity from 18% to 21.7% as of 2021 (Baltimore City). In a city already suffering from systemic hunger, the aftermath of COVID was devastating. And while public health and economic conditions have improved in the years since, national inflation levels for grocery staples have only continued to worsen, with 2023 seeing a 4.3% increase in grocery prices from 2022, which saw an 11.4% increase in prices from the year before that (Baltimore Fishbowl). Yet despite these conditions, many local, state, and national food assistance programs, including the SNAP benefits program, have either seen major cutbacks or ended altogether, leaving vulnerable Baltimore residents to fend for themselves in the aftermath (Reuters).

 

So What Else Baltimore neighborhood food distribution during COVID lockdown in 2020

 

It’s within this context that the So What Else Baltimore Food Program was founded in 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and looming hunger crisis, So What Else Baltimore jumped into action, transitioning a small youth programming team into a food recovery and distribution network. Sourcing food from several businesses, including Sudanos, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and more, the newly created Baltimore branch of the So What Else Emergency Hunger Relief Program developed a coalition of nonprofits, churches, and schools across the city to distribute millions of pounds of food.

 

So What Else Baltimore food distribution in front of City Place on the Avenue Apartments during 2020

 

By developing a largely mobile distribution model, So What Else Baltimore could bypass historic food and transportation deserts and deliver food to at-risk zip codes directly, bridging systemic access barriers. By rescuing edible food slated for landfills, whether due to company policy or excess supply, the team could keep the cost of sourcing that food low, allowing the program to rapidly scale up to meet the needs of the community. 

Today, So What Else Baltimore hosts over 28 food distributions, community deliveries, and ad-hoc drop-offs in all four corners of Baltimore and beyond. On average, the team serves over 242,790 lbs of food a quarter to over 87,000 clients*, making So What Else one of the largest food providers in the city. While the program is primarily focused on serving West Baltimore, there are distribution locations in Hamilton, Highlandtown, Downtown, and beyond.

 

Map and schedule of So What Else Baltimore food distributions

 

Food insecurity in Baltimore cannot be solved by any one organization alone. That’s why So What Else Baltimore’s success lies in collaborative hunger solutions with partnering organizations. It takes time to build community trust and client rapport, and by working with dozens of organizations that have a demonstrated need and years of community relationship-building, the team can quickly and equitably allocate resources to Baltimore residents.

 

So What Else Baltimore distribution with Comité Latino de Baltimore, the Esperanza Center, and the Salem United Methodist Church in 2023

 

In addition to So What Else Baltimore’s Mobile Distribution Program, as of 2023, the chapter also opened their first brick-and-mortar pantry, located in the heart of southwest Baltimore, an area plagued by redlining and food desertification. Providing other household essentials, including clothing, furniture, diapers, hygiene kits, and more, the program has been a huge success since its opening.

 

A community grab-and-go shelf at the So What Else Baltimore Resource Center

 

Despite these feats, there’s much left to be done in order to entirely eradicate hunger in Baltimore. While nonprofits like So What Else are making strides, the food insecurity crisis is vast and deeply embedded, the result of decades long policy decisions and social norms. Without increased government, business and community support, the status quo will likely continue. 

Hunger isn’t always a glamorous or news-catching crisis, but it’s one with far-reaching effects for the people suffering from it. Join us in our battle to end food insecurity and food scarcity in Baltimore by supporting our organization today. All of us can make a difference if only we work together. 

 

So What Else Baltimore clients receiving food during a “Back to School Night” event

 

To learn more about the Baltimore Food Program click here. To volunteer with So What Else Baltimore, sign-up here.

To make a donation to So What Else food programs click here. 

 

Sources:

https://www.vincentbaltimore.org/what-we-do/hunger/#:~:text=One%20in%20eight%20people%20in,left%20school%20the%20day%20before. 

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fe4fdacfd20b46c08dac240ca8dd6192

https://www.baltimorehungerproject.org/blog/segregation-and-hunger-in-baltimore/ 

https://nlihc.org/resource/new-study-explores-connections-between-housing-discrimination-and-food-access 

https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/baltimore-food-policy-initiative/food-environment 

https://www.wmar2news.com/infocus/taking-a-closer-look-at-baltimores-map-past-and-present 

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2022/09/01/east-and-west-baltimore-are-beset-by-food-deserts-heres-how-the-city-is-trying-to-change-that/ 

https://www.morgan.edu/Documents/ACADEMIA/CENTERS/NTC/Chavis%20Final%20Post.pdf 

https://arp.baltimorecity.gov/news/newsletters/2023-03-23-arpa-insight-stories-food-insecurity#:~:text=In%20October%202021%2C%20Feeding%20America,rate%20was%20estimated%20at%2033%25. 

https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/with-the-new-academic-year-underway-how-are-baltimore-schools-and-families-coping-with-food-inflation/ 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-food-benefits-poor-shrink-pandemic-provisions-end-2023-02-16/ 

 

*Note on So What Else metrics: quarterly data is calculated on a repeating basis. Many individual clients are recurring users, meaning the total number of unique individuals served is likely lower.

Supporting Healthy Babies and Healthy Families: An Overview of So What Else’s Baby Pantry Services

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As a resource provider, So What Else feels that it is critically important that we take a whole-family approach to the support we provide our clients. That’s why in 2020, So What Else expanded support to underserved families by providing diapers, baby food, nursing pads, and formula, free of charge. In addition to our core mission to provide hunger relief to food-insecure communities, we believe every family deserves access to basic necessities, and by providing expensive infant items to those struggling the most, So What Else can help to ensure happier, healthier babies and their families.

Since implementing our baby pantry in 2020, we’ve scaled operations considerably. In 2023 alone, we provided over $320,000 worth of baby items to over 3,000 families across Baltimore, Montgomery County, DC, Frederick County, PG County, and Virginia.  All of this is possible due to our extensive network of partners including the wonderful team at the Greater DC Diaper Bank. We’re especially proud to have distributed over 765,000 diapers last year, a staple resource that has become increasingly expensive due to inflation and supply chain issues, improving access and easing critical financial decisions for our clients. 

In expanding our infant resource services, over 4,000 infants were able to receive the care they need to grow up strong and healthy, creating a positive foundation for the next generation of leaders, change makers, and advocates. To learn more about So What Else’s work to support  local families in 2023, see the data below. Thank you to our supporters and the Greater DC Diaper Bank for making this program possible. We could not have done it without you.

If you are interested in volunteering with us:

All SWE volunteer opportunities are listed here & signing up is easy! Create your profile and browse opportunities that fit your interests and availability. Please be sure to register for each instance of a volunteer opportunity you wish to serve. For example, if you want to help out at the Saturday Outdoor Food Pantry, be sure to sign up each time (instance) you want to serve. Please note that sign-ups will be deactivated 24 hours before the start of an opportunity. For last-minute sign ups, please send an email to volunteer@sowhatelse.org.

If you are interested in Group / Team / Organization volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@sowhatelse.org!

If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our after-school or summer camp programs, please send an email to vfuentes@sowhatelse.org.

We hope to see you soon!

Learn More About the So What Else Home Delivery Program

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When you think of the So What Else hunger relief program, you probably picture long lines at a food distribution and crowds of people carrying large boxes filled to the brim with food. But did you know we also serve the community through a robust home delivery program, almost entirely powered by volunteers?

 

Immediately after we began our hunger relief operation in 2020, we recognized there was a real need to connect clients with disabilities and insufficient transportation to more accessible hunger solutions. Every day, food insecure individuals reached out to us looking for help, but were unable to leave their homes. We didn’t think it fair to deny them access to our free food resources just because they couldn’t drive to a pantry or wait in a line or carry a heavy box. And thus our Home Delivery Program was born!

 

Today the Home Delivery Program serves over 600 families every single week. Dozens of volunteers work with our hunger relief team to prepare bags filled with all the groceries a family would need. Then, our superb team of volunteer drivers fill their cars with bags and hand deliver them to families across Montgomery County and beyond!

 

Our program is a lifeline for the families that need it. As one client wrote to us, “We have no transportation, income, or food stamps and were starving before we connected with So What Else’s delivery program. Now we are thankful to have food for ourselves and also help pick up food for others”. 

 

However, as gas prices continue to climb, it’s been harder and harder to find committed volunteers willing to use their personal vehicle to make home deliveries. Every day new families reach out to us in hopes of being added to the list, but without an influx of new volunteers, we’re forced to put them on a waiting list. 

 

If you’re interested in volunteering with the So What Else home delivery program, please reach out to Megan at (240)-705-4345, or Emmanuel at (301)-613-6459.

Contact Details

So What Else Food Rescue Bank: 4924 Wyaconda Rd, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Baltimore Resource Center: 424 S Pulaski St, Baltimore, MD 21223

Contact us! 

Email: info@sowhatelse.org
Fax: (240) 778-2660
EIN #: 27-1219231

So What Else, Inc. Office: 6901 Rockledge Drive, Suite 709, Bethesda, MD 20817 (Only for Mail- Do not come to this address)