Some Baltimoreans – many of them kids – don’t have reliable sources of food. If you’re in need, you can apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or check out Baltimore City’s B’more Fresh Voucher Program, which provides vouchers for produce, or visit any of several local organizations providing access to healthy food in Bolton Hill’s 21217 ZIP code:
- Bmore Community Fridge Network. This grassroots initiative has several outdoor refrigerators where anyone at anytime can drop off food or pick up food. There’s one at 1820 Pennsylvania Ave. and other locations throughout Baltimore.
- Food Rescue Baltimore reduces food waste by distributing health food through several locations around Baltimore, the closest at Yo! Baltimore West.
- Fresh at the Avenue at the Historic Pennsylvania Avenue Market sells produce from local city farms, accepts SNAP payments, and allows payment through volunteering.
- Samaritan Community was founded by and still operates in the basement of Memorial Episcopal Church. Volunteers serve hundreds of households each year, providing food, clothing, and other basic needs.
- St. Francis Center in Reservoir Hill distributes foods to families on Monday and Wednesday mornings, among their many services to the community.
- St. Peter Claver church on Pennsylvania Avenue in an anchor for services in the Upton community.
- Y Fresh Mart at Druid Hill YMCA provides healthy food through its community food pantry.
If you’re in a position to support any of these local organizations, monetary donations are what they need most so they can buy exactly what they need in bulk:
- Donate directly to the organizations listed above or to the Maryland Food Bank.
- Donate through BHCA. Designate “Fight Hunger” in the donation drop-down box, and 100 percent of your donation will be distributed between the organizations accepting monetary donations listed above, and BHCA will cover any electronic transaction costs.
If you’d like to make direct food or toiletry donations, here are guidelines for the most-needed items, which can be given through Bolton Hill churches that have ongoing collections or to the Maryland Food Bank:
- Food: fruit (cups, cans, raisins, applesauce), rice (white or brown), high protein content items, shelf-stable milk, oat milk or almond milk, 1% or 2%, breakfast items, canned chicken, tuna, or salmon, meal makers (Hamburger/Tuna Helper, pizza kits), vegetable soup, beef stew, or chili, canned beans, peanut butter, jelly, 100% fruit juice, whole wheat pasta, instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, and nuts or seeds. Food items should have pop-top cans and be low in sugar and sodium.
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products.
Thanks for your generosity!
Have suggestions or want to match neighbors’ donations to food aid in the 21217? Email treasurer@boltonhillmd.org.
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