On February 28, the Tidewater Rotary Club hosted a high-impact food packing day as part of its FOLKS (Feeding Our Local Kids & Seniors) initiative to combat food insecurity in Talbot County. Forty volunteers gathered at the Easton Airport ACE Center to assemble 2,268 meal packets containing a total of 13,608 servings of fortified macaroni and cheese or rice and beans with vegetables.
The meal packets will be distributed to all Talbot County elementary schools, local food pantries, and Meals on Wheels, ensuring nutritious, easy-to-prepare food reaches children, families, and seniors who need it most.
The FOLKS initiative extends beyond meal packing. In December, the program distributed 70 new crockpots to families at Easton Elementary School. As FOLKS continues, it will distribute a total of 250 new crockpots to local families, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, the Neighborhood Service Center, For All Seasons and Meals on Wheels. By providing the meal packs and new crockpots, FOLKS is helping thousands of people have hot, healthy meals at home. Additionally, FOLKS is funding the purchase of tens of thousands of pounds of food for area food pantries to further strengthen the local safety net.
The initiative is made possible through generous community support and proceeds from the club’s popular fundraisers, including Bowling Night and the upcoming Trivia Night. Last week at Easton Bowl, dozens of participants enjoyed friendly competition while helping “strike out hunger.” The next fundraising event, Trivia Night, is scheduled for May 13 at 4 Dogs Brewing Company & Pub in Easton.
“It’s always a great day when people come together in support of the community,” said FOLKS chairman Rick Hughes. “Food insecurity is the polite way of saying that many of our neighbors, kids, and families are hungry and don’t have the resources to know where their next meal is coming from. It is an invisible problem, and Tidewater Rotary is taking strides to raise awareness and funds. We invite everyone to step up and help in any way they can.”
Community members interested in supporting the fight against hunger, forming a Trivia Night team, or learning more about Tidewater Rotary are encouraged to visit TidewaterRotary.org.
