Who We Serve
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- Residents of all ages living in Kent County
- People with disabilities
- Low income elderly
- Children in low-income households
- Families with part-time or low paying jobs
- Unemployed men and women
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What We Give
A qualifying family will receive three or more bags every two weeks if needed:
including plenty of fresh produce, meat and fish, butter, cheese, eggs, non-perishable foods, and everyday items needed by all.
Items such as: toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and other personal products.
The Backpack Program
Beginning in 2007, concerned citizens in Kent County at the grass roots level recognized the fact that a large number of our children live in homes where there is insufficient food, and as a result, local backpack programs emerged. The Backpack Program refers to organized efforts in our community to provide a bag of nutritious meals and snacks for school children on a weekly basis. These foods are provided for the weekend when school breakfasts and lunches are not available to children who live with food insecurity. The goal is to relieve immediate hunger and to allow children to come to school on Monday feeling well and ready to learn.
In school year 2017-2018, 981 of the 2001 students enrolled in Kent County Public Schools received free / reduced price breakfast and lunch, almost 50% of the total school population. This school year, volunteers are packing meals for 330 students, 34% of the students with free / reduced lunch status:
The Backpack Program began in Rock Hall 10 years ago. Garnett Elementary students were added in 2009, Kent County Middle in 2010, and soon followed by the other elementary schools. The high school was added in the spring of 2019.
The Community Food Pantry learned of these efforts of volunteers in churches and civic organizations, and in 2010 invited the backpack committees to order shelf stable individual servings of food from the Maryland Food Bank at no charge. Presently the Food Pantry is funding almost $40,000 backpack food a year. The Pantry relies on donations from local citizens, institutions, businesses and groups, along with the Carl and Constance Ferris Charitable Trust to fund the Program. In addition, many individuals, churches and other organizations purchase food or make financial contributions directly to the community groups who do the packing of the food.
Donations for the Backpack Program can be mailed to Backpack Program, c/o The Community Food Pantry, P.O. Box 346, Chestertown, MD 21620. Please make out the check to “Backpack Program.”
A Season of Giving
The Community Food Pantry’s Annual Appeal has once again provided funding needed to purchase food for our families in the coming year. The faithful support of our annual givers is most appreciated, and we are so grateful for the donors who have sent gifts this year for the first time. The Pantry is proud to receive almost all of its funding locally. Thank you for helping us take care of our own in need.
In addition to financial gifts, the Pantry received many warm coats, hats and gloves for the winter. Talented knitters, including the Presbyterian Church Knitters, brought in beautiful handmade hats, mittens, and scarves. Thoughtful people delivered toys and other special items to provide gifts for families during the holidays.
Our Pantry happily groaned under the weight of 9,351 pounds (6,228 from Kent County alone!) of donated food during the months of November and December.
Thank you one and all.
The 2016 Annual Report is available upon request.
2017 Highlights
Kent County Food Pantry distributed 126,000 pounds of food during 2016.
An average of 125 families pick up food monthly. Besides the standard menu items, our families enjoy fresh eggs and vegetables brought in every week and delicious cheese from our local cheese shop, donated every month!
Summer of 2017 brings in fresh vegetables from local gardeners and Colchester Farms. Our clients choose from a wide variety of foods. Recipes are also provided. If you have fresh vegetables to share, please bring them to the Pantry between 9:30 and 10:00 on Tuesdays. If this is not convenient for you, please contact us through this website or call 410-778-0550.