Blog

Food Insecurity In Maryland Declined With Added Government Benefits, But Improvement Short-Lived

Donation box food delivery During Coronavirus. COVID-19 Relief Funds and Donations. Charity donations

As jobs disappeared and large chunks of the economy shut down during the coronavirus pandemic, long lines formed outside food banks and experts warned of spikes in hunger.

After the expansion of government aid that followed, fewer Marylanders relied on food pantries and assistance programs for meals — but only temporarily, a recent report found.

By comparing data from March 2020 through July 2021, the Maryland Food Bank found that fewer people visited their food pantries after additional pandemic relief measures were announced and after safety net programs like the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which gives benefits to low-income families to purchase food, were expanded.

Read more.