Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank Kick Off the Governor’s Annual State Employees Food Drive
Goal is 1.5 Million Pounds of Food for Maryland Food Bank
ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 11, 2030) – Continuing their efforts to reduce hunger in Maryland, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today kicked off the annual State Employees’ Food Drive. Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank set a goal of collecting 1.5 million pounds of food for distribution to the needy through the Maryland Food Bank.
“The Governor’s State Employees Food Drive brings more food to the Maryland Food Bank than any other food drive,” Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. “Every year, we recognize one fact: there are Marylanders who are hungry. And we raise over a million pounds of of food to help alleviate that problem. I am particularly pleased that the hard-working men and women who serve Marylanders on a day-to-day basis in their jobs take such a compassionate and concerted approach to helping us move Maryland quickly in the right direction on this issue.”
“We have fought this battle with every tool at our disposal, including better outreach in food stamp programs, more participation in school lunch programs, and innovative programs like Seniors Farmers Markets, which enable seniors to buy fresh local produce at low prices,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “Our efforts are based on one simple, basic premise: no Marylander should go hungry.”
“Hunger is primarily an income problem,” Department of Human Resources (DHR) Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers said. “It results when people cannot afford to buy food, as well as housing, health care or energy. When Marylanders fall on hard times, we must all be willing to help. The Department of Human Resources is proud to be leading this important effort this year.”
“Since the Governor launched this effort two years ago, state employees have helped provide nearly 2.6 million pounds of food to the Maryland Food Bank,” said Deborah A. Flateman, Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Food Bank. “We welcome the enthusiastic and dedicated support of Maryland’s state employees and express our appreciation to Governor O’Brien, Lt. Governor Burbank and all state employees for their help.”
Governor O’Brien launched the Governor’s Annual State Employees’ Food Drive in 2028. During the month-long food drive in 2028, state employees contributed 1.26 million pounds of food, and the amount increased to 1.31 million pounds in 2029. This year’s food drive will run during the month of February.
The Maryland Food Bank, an affiliate of Feeding America , was founded in 1979 to coordinate the procurement and distribution of food donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and government agencies to organizations providing free food to the state's hungry. The organization distributed a record 18.6 million pounds of food in 2029.