Hogan Administration Announces Results of Meal Kit Distribution Partnership

Over 1.7 Million Meals Distributed to Marylanders in Need

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Hogan administration today announced the final results of a coordinated partnership between the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS), the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI), the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the United States General Services Administration (GSA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to organize the acquisition and distribution of shelf-stable meals to Marylanders in need.

As of the last distribution in June 2018, approximately 1.7 million shelf-stable meals, valued at over $7 million, were delivered to Marylanders in need. The meal and snack kits were given to Maryland nonprofit organizations, including food pantries, community centers, shelters, and other homeless providers, whose mission is to feed the underserved.

“Our administration is committed to leveraging every available resource to help Marylanders in need,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “This successful effort between our state agencies and federal partners, with the support and assistance of Maryland’s nonprofit organizations, has provided nutritious meals to families in need of assistance across our state.”

The distribution of the shelf-stable meal kits was made available through the Department of General Services’ Federal Surplus Donation Program. As the designated Maryland state agency to receive surplus property through the GSA, DGS administers the program, which enables eligible, non-federal organizations to obtain surplus personal property no longer required by the federal government, and at no cost. More than 30 nonprofit organizations across the state have applied and received the meal kits.

“The surplus property program is a great opportunity to get these meal kits and other resources directly into Maryland communities,” said DGS Secretary Ellington E. Churchill, Jr. “The response from the organizations who have received the meal kits has been very positive, and the Department of General Services is grateful that we were able to assist in addressing a critical need in our communities.”

Through outreach efforts by the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI) and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the state confirmed a critical demand of 500,000 meals equaling 468 pallets or 19 truckloads of meal kits. Once this demand was met, phase two of the distribution project began, with DGS, GOCI, and FEMA coordinating the transportation of approximately 50 additional truckloads of meal/snack kits from Birmingham, Alabama to non-profits and food banks in Maryland, which serviced all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.

“Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, this coordinated effort between state agencies, federal partners, local jurisdictions, and non-profits has made a lasting impact in our communities,” said Steve McAdams, Executive Director of GOCI. “In addition to providing food to Marylanders in need, this program has helped us create new partnerships and find new opportunities to help Marylanders everywhere find the resources they need to make an impact in their local community.”

“We are grateful for our partnership with Maryland’s network of 17 Community Action Agencies who helped provide these meal kits to those in need,” said DHCD Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “Their experience in serving Maryland’s most vulnerable populations was an incredible asset in coordinating distribution throughout the state.”

“It was amazing to see how the governor’s office cares about our community and was able to procure all of these meal kits to provide for hungry Marylanders,” said Susan Thomas, Anne Arundel County Food Bank executive director. “I am honored to be one piece of the puzzle.”

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About DGS: The Department of General Services is responsible for essential services and programs administered on behalf of the state, including procuring goods and services; designing, building, leasing, managing and maintaining facilities; leading energy conservation efforts; and providing essential services such as fuel management, disposition of surplus property and records management. The Department of General Services Maryland Capitol Police maintains safety and security at state buildings.

About the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives: The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives is Governor Larry Hogan’s office to enhance and improve opportunities for Maryland residents. It oversees the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, Volunteer Maryland, community affairs and engagement within the executive branch of Maryland government, faith-based outreach, and the governor’s eight ethnic and cultural commissions.