Hunger in Talbot County doesn’t always look the way people expect.
It may be the senior choosing between groceries and prescription medications. It may be the working family stretching a paycheck that no longer covers the basics. It may be the neighbor who has never asked for help before, or the parent quietly skipping meals so their children can eat.
The need is larger than many residents realize. Nearly 40 percent of Talbot County households are either living below the federal poverty level or fall into the ALICE category, meaning they work but still cannot afford basic household necessities. At the same time, 59 percent of Talbot County Public Schools students qualify for free and reduced-price meals.
The Talbot County Hunger Coalition says these stories are becoming increasingly common as organizations across the county work together to meet a growing and changing need.
Recent feedback from local pantries, along with new county data compiled by Talbot Family Network, paints a complex picture.
While unemployment remains relatively low, many residents continue to struggle with rising housing costs, inflation, and the increasing gap between wages and the cost of living.
“The continuing increase by the week in the number of people coming to the pantry for food assistance is what keeps me up at night,” said Andy Hollis, executive director of the Neighborhood Service Center of Talbot County. “The question becomes, ‘how do we keep up financially?’”
Hollis said the Neighborhood Service Center, the county’s only food pantry open five days a week, recently expanded evening hours for residents unable to visit during the workday, renovated its pantry to create a more welcoming shopping experience, and continues expanding its mobile pantry to reach people who cannot travel to Easton.
Kate Mansfield is the pantry manager for St. Vincent de Paul in Easton and says the organization’s recent expansion of evening hours illustrates how local pantries continue adapting to meet residents where they are.
“We expanded our Tuesday pantry hours into the evening because many of our neighbors are employed or have limited access to transportation,” Mansfield said. “We’re especially seeing working families and some of our Hispanic neighbors making use of those later hours. Removing barriers to access is one way we can better serve our community.”
The pantry now serves approximately 1,900 individuals each month and relies on more than 100 volunteers to keep its operations running.
Heather Buritsch, project manager for the Talbot County Office of Community Partnerships, said coalition members are seeing the same trends throughout the county.
“Our coalition members all see the same thing,” Buritsch said. “Organizations are working together to understand where gaps exist, expand services, and connect more families with the resources already available in our community.”
The Hunger Coalition includes food pantries, meal programs, churches, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations working together to address hunger throughout Talbot County. Earlier this year, coalition members completed surveys and participated in interviews to identify emerging trends, shared challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.
One theme surfaced repeatedly.
Hunger is becoming less visible.
“Funding is always a concern, but what keeps me up at night are the people we aren’t reaching,” said Amy Horne, executive director of the St. Michaels Community Center.
“Many individuals and families are making impossible choices between food, housing, utilities, transportation, and health care,” she said. “Some never ask for help because of stigma, lack of transportation, language barriers, or simply because they don’t know services are available.”
Coalition members say today’s food pantry visitors often look different from what people might imagine. Seniors living on fixed incomes, grandparents raising grandchildren, working parents, and families facing unexpected expenses are increasingly relying on food assistance while continuing to work and care for their families.
Catherine Poe, chair of the Talbot County Hunger Coalition, said the county’s aging population makes those challenges especially significant.
“We primarily see seniors, some living on Social Security, many just one car repair away from disaster,” Poe said. “We hear the personal stories of what the rising cost of living is doing to their golden years.”
For older residents who depend primarily or entirely on Social Security, even an average monthly benefit leaves little room for rising expenses.
Poe says national statistics show about one in four seniors relies solely on Social Security. The average benefit is about $2,081 a month, or $24,972 a year, and reductions in food and health care assistance can further strain already-tight household budgets.
“The day-to-day struggle is daunting,” Poe said.
Susan Roecker, who helps lead the Tilghman Methodist Church food pantry and meal program, said many older residents remain reluctant to ask for assistance.
“There are residents who could use our help, especially prepared meals, but they do not want charity,” Roecker said. “I worry about the folks who will not accept help from government, church, community, or even family.”
To meet changing needs, many organizations have expanded services.
Naomi Thomas of Scotts United Methodist Church’s Pantry on the Go said the pantry continues to welcome anyone in need while adapting to the financial pressures affecting families across the region.
“The economy has changed everything,” Thomas said. “The cost of food, gas, fuel, electricity, and other necessities continues to rise, making it harder for families to make ends meet.”
Thomas said the pantry has delivered food to homebound seniors when needed and welcomes anyone seeking assistance, regardless of where they live.
“We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable coming for food,” Thomas said. “We don’t turn anyone away.”
JR Burkhardt, a high school counselor and volunteer who runs the Royal Oak Community United Methodist Church food pantry, said the pantry has remained stable thanks to community donations. However, demand has increased during the summer months.
“We have been blessed with donations here and there, so the food has been flowing,” Burkhardt said. “Due to schools being out for summer, we have seen an upswing, but we expected that, as it happens every summer.”
The church began the pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and offers 24/7 access to food for people in need.
Several food pantries now offer evening hours for working families and individuals with transportation challenges. Mobile food distribution has expanded. Home-delivered meals continue serving homebound residents.
Organizations also invest in nutrition education, community gardens, cooking classes, and client-choice pantries that allow families to select foods that best meet their needs. Despite those efforts, coalition members say several challenges continue to limit their ability to respond.
Buritsch said the coalition’s assessment also found that many residents are unaware of the services available throughout the county.
“The Hunger Coalition is working to strengthen its impact by sharing and bringing information to one place,” Buritsch said. “Our members serve the community in unique ways. By working together, we can make it easier for neighbors to find the support they need, while also help our pantries and community partners reach more people.”
Through the coalition assessment, members identified volunteer recruitment and training, sustainable funding, stronger coordination among community partners, data collection, and public awareness as the greatest needs. Funding constraints, staffing shortages, transportation barriers, and limited access to nutritious food were consistently identified as the biggest obstacles to addressing hunger across the county.
The county’s demographics and cost-of-living data help explain some of that pressure.
Talbot County’s median age is 51, significantly older than the statewide median age of 40, while nearly one-third of residents are age 65 or older. At the same time, renters spend approximately half of their income on housing costs, leaving less money available for food and other essentials.
Still, coalition members remain optimistic because of the community’s response.
Volunteers, donors, churches, businesses, and community organizations continue stepping forward to help local food programs adapt to changing needs.
“Our philosophy is simple: remove as many barriers as possible,” Horne said. “While it’s essential to provide meals today, it’s equally important to equip people with the knowledge and confidence to feed themselves and their families for years to come.”
Poe said local food pantries continue to meet the growing demand thanks to generous volunteers, donors, churches, businesses, and community partners.
“Our pantries are doing a heroic job,” Poe said. “The question is how long they can continue meeting the need if costs continue to rise. Right now, they are a lifeline for thousands of our neighbors.”
Hollis hopes the report helps residents better understand that hunger exists throughout Talbot County.
“Monday through Friday, the Neighborhood Service Center has a morning bread line where individuals and families line up for day-old bread and other donated items from our community partners,” Hollis said. “Bread lines should have been eliminated after the Great Depression. Instead, they’re going strong in Talbot County. It isn’t that people don’t care. It’s that many have little idea how serious the need has become.”
Coalition members encourage anyone experiencing food insecurity to seek help without hesitation. They also invite community members to become part of the solution.
Financial contributions allow local pantries to purchase nutritious foods in bulk and respond quickly when needs change. Volunteers are needed throughout the county to stock shelves, prepare meals, transport food, assist clients, and support special events. Food donations remain welcome, particularly healthy shelf-stable items and other products requested by local pantries.
Donations designated for individual pantries through the Maryland Food Bank, and support for community events such as Empty Bowls of Talbot County, also help ensure local food programs can continue to meet growing demand.
“Every volunteer, donor, business, faith community, and organization has a role to play,” Poe said. “When our community works together, we make sure our neighbors don’t have to face hunger alone.”
For more information about the Talbot County Hunger Coalition, available food resources, and ways to get involved, visit the Hunger Coalition webpage at www.HealthyTalbot.org.
