With its rich history and picturesque landscapes, food insecurity may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Carroll County. However, with more and more individuals and families everywhere struggling to put food on their tables, the Y is getting ready to open its doors to its latest Y Fresh Mart food pantry at the Hill Y in Westminster on April 20.
Open to everyone, the Y Fresh Mart community food pantry will offer an extensive range of food items including canned goods, bread, cereal, meat, rice, pasta, fresh produce, and more, at no cost.
The Y Fresh Mart is a welcomed addition to the critical network of food pantries and soup kitchens who work strategically together to support children, adults and families facing food insecurity across Carroll County. Just two of these programs are Mission Food Program, a part of the Westminster Rescue Mission and Carroll County Food Sunday.
“Food is so basic. You can’t do anything without it and we are not going to solve this problem alone. We have to work together,” says Carroll County Food Sunday Executive Director, Caroline Babylon.
“A lot of the people we see are from the ALICE population. That means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. That’s usually people living paycheck to paycheck and then suddenly have a medical bill or a car repair and just need some help. They come in, get basic food and make it through that difficult time,” shares Caroline.
“Here at Westminster Rescue Mission, as the Maryland Food Bank's local Distribution Partner, we’re all about meeting our neighbors where they are. Whether through our food redistribution or mobile distribution efforts, we want to make sure folks can feed their families,” shares Jessica Cook, Westminster Rescue Mission Food Network Coordinator.
With the demand for food growing, the need for food access and community pantries has become more pressing than ever. According to Feeding America, more than 1 in 10 children in Carroll County are food insecure.
“The Y is ready to join its counterparts in the region and face this challenge head-on,” says Y in Central Maryland Food Pantry Program Director, Margo Nicolson.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to be working together with leading organizations and partners like Westminster Rescue Mission, Carroll County Food Sunday, Wellpoint, the Maryland Food Bank and McCormick Flavor for Life to help ensure that no one in Carroll County goes to bed hungry,” shares Margo.
For more information about the Y’s Food Distribution efforts, please visit ymaryland.org/yfreshmart