Navigating Uncertainty

The beginning of the year in Maryland brings with it a new legislative session—the brief, frantic time when Annapolis bursts into activity for 90 days to pass the year’s bills. Each year, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank chooses some bills to support and others to oppose, as we see them affecting the fortunes of the food bank, our partners, and our neighbors The Fair Share Plan, which we are supporting this year, is such a bill, which closes tax loopholes in order to adequately fund public services and deliver tax relief to over 1 million working families. Other legislative developments are not so much chosen, as thrust upon us.

The past few weeks have brought uncertainty to anyone working in the nonprofit and government arenas, and the Anne Arundel County Food Bank is no exception. Uncertainty about funding, about which programs might be cut, and most of all how changes happening at the state and federal level will affect our neighbors. The Anne Arundel County Food Bank relies mostly on monetary contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations to keep going, as well as County-level government support, but many of the people we serve rely on larger government programs that operate at the State and Federal levels.?People receiving these benefits may not have needed our assistance in the past but with the impending cuts to these programs, they will very likely need our help if and when the benefits disappear.

Approximately five percent of Anne Arundel County residents work for the federal government, not counting the businesses which rely on government contracts. Mass layoffs from Washington can have a direct impact on the lines at our distributions, as more county residents are moved rapidly from stability into lives of uncertainty and food insecurity.

Food prices, too high for too long, show no signs of falling, and many economists predict that tariffs and immigration crackdowns could cause them to rise. Combine that with proposed cuts to benefits programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, and for many Anne Arundel residents, the path to food insecurity grows shorter.

Different issues abound on the State level, as the legislature tries to address a $3 billion budget shortfall. This too, will likely involve cutting some of the programs that many Marylanders rely on.

There are a variety of life events that send people to a food pantry for help. Unemployment is one—at a recent mobile pantry distribution we met Tanika, a young woman who had recently lost her job in human resources, and Michael, a single dad of two who is between HVAC jobs. Others are dealing with unexpected medical bills, like Morgan, an older gentleman who retired from government service and receives an unending stream of bills related to his wife’s cancer treatment. Research shows that people tend to dip in and out of food insecurity as their life circumstances dictate. Hopefully, Tanika and Michael will get new jobs, and Morgan’s wife will enter remission. Maybe we’ll never see them again, or maybe they’ll come back, as many people do, as volunteers to help others.

Giving out food is one part of our mission, and it’s a big part. Making sure that the Morgans, Tanikas, and Michaels of our community, along with everyone else who comes to us or to our Network Pantry partners, leaves with enough food to keep them healthy. But if we’re truly going to alleviate food insecurity in Anne Arundel County, we also need to work for systemic change, making sure the safety net is there when our neighbors need it, and implementing those changes that will reduce or eliminate need and put our neighbors on a path of stability and security.?

Morgan, standing in the cold with a smile on his face, told us that despite his frustrations, he believes people are essentially good. “If you see someone down, lift them up,” he said. “Maybe they will do the same for you.”

As uncertainty swirls around all of us, that advice may be more important than ever.

This letter appeared in the February 2025 edition of Provisions, the newsletter of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank