Extended partnership will provide nearly 750,000 meals to food insecure residents of Prince George’s County, MD.
Washington, DC, April 22, 2020 – The Capital Area Food Bank today announced that Bank of America has made a $500,000 investment that will provide food to thousands of area residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The half million-dollar donation will support hunger relief activities in Prince George’s County, where food insecurity rates are the highest in the Washington metropolitan region.
“In these exceptionally challenging times, cross sector partnerships have never been more powerful – or more necessary,” said Radha Muthiah, president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. “Bank of America’s support will make a critical difference for our Prince George’s County neighbors struggling with hunger, both today and in the ongoing wake of the pandemic’s economic impacts.”
Even prior to the pandemic, nearly 120,000 Prince George’s County residents struggled with hunger and food insecurity. In recent weeks, demand for emergency food there has doubled as unemployment claims have risen. Bank of America’s donation will be used to help the CAFB provide critical support in the coming months by supplying more food through its nonprofit partners in the region, and through direct distributions – many held in partnership the County government – of emergency boxes of shelf stable goods. The donation will also support the food bank’s preparations as it develops initiatives to meet the anticipated longer-term need arising from the toll of COVID-19 on the area economy.
“Capital Area Food Bank is on the front lines in the war on this virus and the 2,500 Bank of America teammates in the DMV are proud to help them in that mission” said Larry Di Rita, Bank of America’s market president for Greater Washington, DC.
The food bank provides nearly 32 million meals each year through a network of what is normally 450+ nonprofit partners. Amid coronavirus concerns, more than half of that network has temporarily closed, and partners that remain open have reported anywhere between 30 and 400% increases in the numbers of people coming through their doors.
About the Capital Area Food Bank
Now commemorating its 40th anniversary year, the Capital Area Food Bank works to address hunger today and create brighter futures tomorrow for close to 400,000 people across the region experiencing food insecurity. As the anchor in the area’s hunger relief infrastructure, the food bank provides over 30 million meals to people in need each year by supplying food to 450+ nonprofit organizations, including Martha’s Table, SOME – So Others Might Eat, DC Central Kitchen, Food for Others, Manna, and others.
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