To end hunger in Calvert County and extend services throughout Southern Maryland.

End Hunger in Calvert County (EHCC) is a coalition of over 150 businesses, churches, schools, social service and government agencies united behind the idea that we can end hunger in our community. Our food distribution program is mission critical to feeding 15,000 low-income individuals who rely on a local pantry each year. In 2017, EHCC distributed 1.7 million pounds of food to 61 feeding partners through our centrally located warehouse - all at no cost. EHCC warehouse operations are funded through fundraising events, individual donors, in-kind donations, Maryland State grants and corporate support such as the State Farm Neighborhood Assistance Initiative. In addition to food, we support our partners with infrastructure (commercial freezers/cool boxes) and technical assistance (ServSafe , USDA guidelines). EHCC has been acknowledged as a leader in our field and recently received the Governors Citation for Community Service. 100% of State Farm funding will be used to feed the hungry.

A Neighborhood Assist award of $25,000 will provide 100,000 critically needed meals to low-income families. The majority served are not homeless, addicted or mentally challenged- they are the working poor earning too much for public benefits and not enough to meet their basic needs.*

Feeding America reported a meal gap of 1,015,549 meals in Calvert County. This figure represents the number of meals needed to eradicate hunger. The cost of filling the gap is estimated to be $3,788,000.00; the average cost per meal is $3.73.**

Together, State Farm and EHCC can leverage our partnership with Maryland Food Bank and local farmers to provide a nutritious meal for $0.25. EHCC can obtain food at 5 pounds/dollar; the equivalent of 4 meals per dollar.*** Funds invested with End Hunger provide a strong return and make a significant difference.

*Selfsufficiencystandard.org

**FeedingAmerica.org

***USDA

Forty percent of food recipients are children. A study from the Tufts University demonstrates the high cost of childhood hunger and the impact on cognitive development. There is evidence that the brain's ability to develop is impacted when adequate nutrition is not available.

Key findings from the study include:

1) Not getting enough to eat on a regular basis can delay brain development and the child's ability to learn
2) the longer food insecurity continues, the greater chance of cognitive delays
3) low levels of iron, which is detected in 25% of low-income children, is a key concern and linked with impaired cognitive development
4) low-income children that come to school hungry have lower test scores than low-income children that arrive at school well-fed;
Ensuring that every child has access to healthy food will impact our community for generations.

*https://www.ourcommunityfoodbank.org/food-insecurities/the-link-between-learning-and-child-hunger-in-america/