About Maryland Hunger Solutions
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) established Maryland Hunger Solutions (MDHS) as a project to fight hunger and improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of children and families in Maryland. The initiative was launched in the fall of 2007 and is modeled on the successful D.C. Hunger Solutions (DCHS) Initiative that began in 2002.
Maryland Hunger Solutions will use a three-pronged strategy to overcome barriers and create self-sustaining connections between Maryland residents and nutritious foods. Maryland Hunger Solutions will work with state and community partners to seek to:
- Maximize participation in all federal nutrition programs through a combination of removal of obstacles to participation, close work with social service agencies and outreach.
- Educate the public and key stakeholders both to the stark reality of hunger’s existence in Maryland and to solutions that are already at hand.
- Improve public policies to end hunger, reduce poverty, and promote nutrition.
In the wealthiest state in the country, 9.5 percent, or almost one in ten households faces a constant struggle against hunger. Maryland is home to three of the wealthiest counties in the nation, Howard, Montgomery and Calvert Counties, but with food and energy prices continuing to rise, it can be extremely difficult to live in poverty and struggle against hunger in the state. With the cost of living in many Maryland counties well above the national average, families are struggling to pay their housing costs, put gas in their cars and pay their heating and air conditioning bills. Many Maryland families may make choices that lead to hunger and poor nutrition. Many children go without meals. Adults struggling with low wages wonder if they have enough food to last the week. Seniors must choose between paying for food or for medicine.
Even when families can scrape together enough, a balanced and healthy diet is beyond their reach. Sometimes the outcome is obesity, an ironic by-product of having too few resources to purchase good food. Recent studies suggest that not eating breakfast, can lead to higher obesity rates among teens. The obesity rates have been rising in Maryland, and the state is part of the nationwide epidemic of obesity.
Hunger and obesity result from low wages, a lack of information and inadequate participation in nutrition and other assistance programs. Without proper nutrition or enough food, children do not develop to their full potential and adults are not as productive as they could be. The cost to affected individuals is irreparable. The cost to government and society is far greater than what it would take to assure three healthy meals a day.
Federal food programs can help connect hungry Marylanders to three meals a day. By getting more children to participate in school breakfast and lunch, or afterschool snacks, we can make sure that children don’t go hungry during the school day. We can also connect families to programs like food stamps or the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to help them put healthy food on the table.
