How to Donate Food to a Food Bank in Maryland
A practical guide to donating food to a food bank in Maryland, with the local food banks you can support today.
Food insecurity is a real and growing pressure for households in Maryland. Donating food to a local food bank is one of the most direct ways to help. This guide explains the need in Maryland, what food banks need most, and how to give so your donation goes furthest.
Food insecurity in Maryland
The food insecurity rate in Maryland was 13.3% (2023). Among children in Maryland, the food insecurity rate reached 16.1% (2023). About 824,930 people in Maryland experienced food insecurity (2023). About 219,040 people in Maryland experienced food insecurity (2023). Budget shortfall in Maryland: 579,934,000 (2023).
Food banks in Maryland
These food banks serve Maryland and the surrounding area. You can donate to any of them through Heart2Cart:
- Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore, Maryland
What food banks need most
Food banks welcome shelf stable staples like canned vegetables, beans, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, and canned fish such as tuna and salmon. Many also need fresh produce, dairy, and protein when they can store it. The single most useful thing you can give is often a financial gift, because food banks buy in bulk at rates a household cannot match, so a dollar stretches into more meals than the same dollar spent at the store.
How to donate food in Maryland
1. Pick a food bank in Maryland from the list above.
2. Choose what to give. Heart2Cart lets you fill a cart with real food items and see your impact in meals, not just dollars.
3. Give securely. Heart2Cart passes your gift to the food bank you chose so they can buy exactly what their community needs.
Every gift, large or small, helps a neighbour in Maryland put food on the table.
Sources
- us-md (2023)
- us-md (2023)
- us-md (FY24)
- us-national-mmg (2023)
- us-national-usda (2024)
Frequently asked questions
Where can I donate food in Maryland?
You can donate to any food bank serving Maryland through Heart2Cart. Pick one from the list on this page and give in a few minutes.
What do food banks in Maryland need most?
Shelf stable staples and canned fish are always useful, but a financial gift usually helps most because food banks buy in bulk and turn each dollar into more meals.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Food banks that work directly with Heart2Cart can send an official donation receipt. For others, your gift is a contribution that buys food, directed entirely to that food bank.