Give a bag of groceries to the CARES food pantry in the Online Store.

Food and Nutrition

The problem

Food security is an issue for low income households in Baltimore. Both working families and those on fixed incomes are facing skyrocketing utility bills and higher costs for food and housing. The fact that electricity rates in Maryland have almost doubled in the past two years has made it so that households that were already struggling to make ends meet now sometimes find themselves without food at the end of the month. Families need somewhere to get food to tide them over. Without neighborhood food pantries to distribute food, many would go hungry for part of each month. 

Cost is one factor contributing to a poor diet, and another is difficulty accessing nutritious food. Often there are no fresh fruits or vegetables available in neighborhood markets or what is available is very expensive. In addition, food pantries traditionally give out only non-perishable goods, with canned foods usually high in sodium and lacking in vitamins and minerals. 

How GEDCO is working to help

GEDCO’s CARES Food Pantry helps households in north Baltimore meet these challenges. CARES provides three days worth of food up to once a month. Many families must come to CARES each month, because their income simply isn’t sufficient to meet their needs. 

Through the generosity of One Straw Farm and GEDCO member organizations, CARES distributes organic fresh vegetables during the growing season. The pantry offers vouchers for the 32^nd Street Famers Market, where clients can choose their own seasonal, fresh produce. 

CARES also provides emergency financial assistance to prevent utility turn-offs and evictions and to help with prescription costs. The money a family saves makes it possible for a household to get through a crisis without the compounding effects of hunger.