Impact Archives - So What Else Inc

Tackling Hunger in Baltimore City: The So What Else Baltimore Food Program

February 29, 2024/in Blog, Impact/by Tori Nefflen

The So What Else Baltimore Food Program was born out of critical necessity. While hunger exists across the many DMV locations So What Else serves, Baltimore has been and continues to be one of the most deeply food-insecure regions in our program.

Twice as many households are food insecure in Baltimore when compared to the state of Maryland as a whole (St. Vincent De Paul Baltimore). While a significant amount of food resources and funding are allocated to Baltimore each year, it’s evident these resources have only put a dent in the city’s unmet needs, with the Maryland Food Bank’s Hunger Map reporting that over 49,350,000 pounds of food would be needed to entirely eradicate hunger in Baltimore (Maryland Food Bank). Just a glance at the Maryland Hunger Map, and it’s clear Baltimore and its surrounding counties suffer from some of the highest concentrations of hunger hotspots in the state.

Map of ALICE Hunger Hotspots by region (Source: Maryland Food Bank)

Map of ALICE Hunger Hotspots by county (Source: Maryland Food Bank)

To explain why Baltimore uniquely suffers from ongoing and pervasive hunger, we can look at the historical landscape the city is situated in. Baltimore was one of the first cities in America to institutionalize segregation, enacting a law to codify years of discriminatory practices in 1910. While eventually the law was overturned due to unconstitutionality, it was followed by a series of redlining practices by banks in the 1930s, which led to the subsequent divestment and underdevelopment of Baltimore’s predominantly black neighborhoods (Baltimore Hunger Project). Combined with blockbusting, and later, gentrification, these discriminatory policies are directly correlated with food insecurity, inequitable food access, and food desertification in Baltimore (National Low Income Housing Coalition). Compare any map of food insecurity in Baltimore with a map of historic redlining, and it’s clear that the two are intertwined.

Map of current food deserts or “Healthy Food Priority Areas” in Baltimore City (Source: Baltimore City)

Map of historic redlining in Baltimore (Source: ABC 2 News)

Today, 146,000 Baltimore residents reside inside a food desert, which is over a quarter of the population of the city as a whole (Baltimore Sun). However, some sources believe the percentage of residents affected by food deserts is much higher due to Baltimore’s car dependency and lack of public transportation. In a 2018 report, Morgan State University researchers found that as many as 42% of residents live in a food desert when vehicle access is considered (Morgan State University).

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the issue, resulting in an unprecedented increase in food insecurity from 18% to 21.7% as of 2021 (Baltimore City). In a city already suffering from systemic hunger, the aftermath of COVID was devastating. And while public health and economic conditions have improved in the years since, national inflation levels for grocery staples have only continued to worsen, with 2023 seeing a 4.3% increase in grocery prices from 2022, which saw an 11.4% increase in prices from the year before that (Baltimore Fishbowl). Yet despite these conditions, many local, state, and national food assistance programs, including the SNAP benefits program, have either seen major cutbacks or ended altogether, leaving vulnerable Baltimore residents to fend for themselves in the aftermath (Reuters).

So What Else Baltimore neighborhood food distribution during COVID lockdown in 2020

It’s within this context that the So What Else Baltimore Food Program was founded in 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and looming hunger crisis, So What Else Baltimore jumped into action, transitioning a small youth programming team into a food recovery and distribution network. Sourcing food from several businesses, including Sudanos, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and more, the newly created Baltimore branch of the So What Else Emergency Hunger Relief Program developed a coalition of nonprofits, churches, and schools across the city to distribute millions of pounds of food.

So What Else Baltimore food distribution in front of City Place on the Avenue Apartments during 2020

By developing a largely mobile distribution model, So What Else Baltimore could bypass historic food and transportation deserts and deliver food to at-risk zip codes directly, bridging systemic access barriers. By rescuing edible food slated for landfills, whether due to company policy or excess supply, the team could keep the cost of sourcing that food low, allowing the program to rapidly scale up to meet the needs of the community.

Today, So What Else Baltimore hosts over 28 food distributions, community deliveries, and ad-hoc drop-offs in all four corners of Baltimore and beyond. On average, the team serves over 242,790 lbs of food a quarter to over 87,000 clients*, making So What Else one of the largest food providers in the city. While the program is primarily focused on serving West Baltimore, there are distribution locations in Hamilton, Highlandtown, Downtown, and beyond.

Map and schedule of So What Else Baltimore food distributions

Food insecurity in Baltimore cannot be solved by any one organization alone. That’s why So What Else Baltimore’s success lies in collaborative hunger solutions with partnering organizations. It takes time to build community trust and client rapport, and by working with dozens of organizations that have a demonstrated need and years of community relationship-building, the team can quickly and equitably allocate resources to Baltimore residents.

So What Else Baltimore distribution with Comité Latino de Baltimore, the Esperanza Center, and the Salem United Methodist Church in 2023

In addition to So What Else Baltimore’s Mobile Distribution Program, as of 2023, the chapter also opened their first brick-and-mortar pantry, located in the heart of southwest Baltimore, an area plagued by redlining and food desertification. Providing other household essentials, including clothing, furniture, diapers, hygiene kits, and more, the program has been a huge success since its opening.

A community grab-and-go shelf at the So What Else Baltimore Resource Center

Despite these feats, there’s much left to be done in order to entirely eradicate hunger in Baltimore. While nonprofits like So What Else are making strides, the food insecurity crisis is vast and deeply embedded, the result of decades long policy decisions and social norms. Without increased government, business and community support, the status quo will likely continue.

Hunger isn’t always a glamorous or news-catching crisis, but it’s one with far-reaching effects for the people suffering from it. Join us in our battle to end food insecurity and food scarcity in Baltimore by supporting our organization today. All of us can make a difference if only we work together.

So What Else Baltimore clients receiving food during a “Back to School Night” event

To learn more about the Baltimore Food Program click here. To volunteer with So What Else Baltimore, sign-up here.

To make a donation to So What Else food programs click here.

Sources:

https://www.vincentbaltimore.org/what-we-do/hunger/#:~:text=One%20in%20eight%20people%20in,left%20school%20the%20day%20before.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fe4fdacfd20b46c08dac240ca8dd6192

https://www.baltimorehungerproject.org/blog/segregation-and-hunger-in-baltimore/

https://nlihc.org/resource/new-study-explores-connections-between-housing-discrimination-and-food-access

https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/baltimore-food-policy-initiative/food-environment

https://www.wmar2news.com/infocus/taking-a-closer-look-at-baltimores-map-past-and-present

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2022/09/01/east-and-west-baltimore-are-beset-by-food-deserts-heres-how-the-city-is-trying-to-change-that/

https://www.morgan.edu/Documents/ACADEMIA/CENTERS/NTC/Chavis%20Final%20Post.pdf

https://arp.baltimorecity.gov/news/newsletters/2023-03-23-arpa-insight-stories-food-insecurity#:~:text=In%20October%202021%2C%20Feeding%20America,rate%20was%20estimated%20at%2033%25.

https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/with-the-new-academic-year-underway-how-are-baltimore-schools-and-families-coping-with-food-inflation/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-food-benefits-poor-shrink-pandemic-provisions-end-2023-02-16/

*Note on So What Else metrics: quarterly data is calculated on a repeating basis. Many individual clients are recurring users, meaning the total number of unique individuals served is likely lower.

We Must Take a Stand

January 12, 2024/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

Our nonprofit, So What Else (SWE), is the largest food distributor in Montgomery County, and yet we may lose the ability to fully provide for our clients because of a financial deficit at year-end caused by worsening inflation, increased demand for services, and a lack of funding from the Montgomery County Government for our food program.

Since the onset of the pandemic, SWE has distributed 35 million free meals in Montgomery County in less than four years. In late 2021, after our work began attracting attention, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) approached us and asked us to help feed the County HUBS, a partnership of eight community-based organizations and DHHS, because they could not continue to buy food for them as federal Covid-19 funds ran out. We immediately began feeding the HUBS throughout the county, and all we requested in return was modest support from Montgomery County to help offset these costs.

However, since July of 2023, we have received no financial support from the county for our services, totaling 4.5 million meals in a six-month span, while likewise receiving no answer on 2024 support after an appropriation was denied and the grants process for nonprofit awards was delayed with no announcement in sight. As a result, we are now in grave danger of having to deny critical, lifesaving access to hunger relief for our thousands of clients due to a $250,000 dollar budget deficit.

The County has a $7 billion budget. All we are asking for is $360,000 to supplement the millions of dollars we are already raising in order to ensure their constituents, their HUBS, can continue to receive the food access they desperately need. As prices continue to rise in grocery stores and demand for food across the county continues to grow, we are being pushed beyond our current capacity and financial means and cannot continue to operate without significant cutbacks posed to hurt our clients, staff, and volunteers.

So we are calling all individuals, all community organizations, local businesses, and supporters, both former and current, to please join us in taking a stand to fight for food access in our county. Donate at the bottom of this page, petition your county representatives to financially support our work, and share this message far and wide. All donations will be matched up to $150,000 and are vitally needed. Every single dollar counts.

We cannot bridge the gap without you, and we cannot afford to wait. Thank you.

Donate Today & Help Us Bridge the Gap: https://sowhatelse.salsalabs.org/bridgethegap/index.html

Sign the Petition: https://chng.it/yPMN5HvdDg

Thank you for making this Thanksgiving our most successful yet!

December 11, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

Coming into November, we were unsure if we’d be able to meet the demands of our clients. It’s been a tough year for nonprofits, and So What Else is no exception. With 10,000 families relying on our Montgomery County, DC, and Baltimore teams to provide them with the poultry and produce they needed for Thanksgiving, we had our work cut out for us.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers, the many organizations and community members that hosted food drives on our behalf, and the hundreds of supporters that donated over $17,000 to our Thanksgiving Giveback, we were able to meet the challenge head-on and give our clients the Thanksgiving they deserve. Here are some of the highlights:

In Baltimore, we distributed 770 chickens to families in need and supported 16 food distributions across the city with produce and other holiday items, the largest of which fed over 1,000 people! One of our wonderful partners, Rev. Dr. Sheila Davis, shared, “Thank you so much for your generous donation of fruits, vegetables, and bread to our Empowerment Temple AME Church. It was a huge success, and it blessed so many people. God bless So What Else Inc. for the great work you do to help those in need.”

Our Washington, D.C. team was also able to distribute 800 chickens throughout the community! We were also able to distribute 800 chickens across 10 sites in Washington, DC!

The impact didn’t stop there! Across Montgomery County, we gave out nearly 2,000 chickens to families in need. While we weren’t able to purchase poultry for every client, we worked our hardest to ensure everyone could put food on their table for the holiday. When combined with other recovered food and donations, we were able to feed a total of 4,000 families in North Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and neighboring communities.

None of this would have been possible without the support of each and every one of you. From our donors to our partners to our volunteers and our sponsors, our So What Else community is what enables us to move mountains for the families we serve. Thanksgiving may be over, but the winter holidays are right around the corner. We will need your help once again to continue supporting families moving into December. Get involved in our Holiday Hearts of Gratitude movement by going to https://sowhatelse.salsalabs.org/2023holidayheartsofgratitude. Thank you, and happy holidays!

A Full Circle Moment: Daryl’s Story

November 9, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

Daryl’s life didn’t start off easy. Growing up in the Wingate community of Washington, DC, he often recalls there being rampant violence in his neighborhood growing up. His mother, hoping to give him a better way, enrolled him in a So What Else youth program, and while she couldn’t have known it then, this soon became one of the major themes of Daryl’s life – and his family’s.

You see, Daryl isn’t just one of our former students. He’s also a former volunteer and current employee, spending nearly his entire life involved with So What Else in one capacity or another. As time went on, many of his family members became involved in the So What Else movement, with many of them still working as So What Else staff members today.

Years ago, after aging out of the program, Daryl made the decision to come back to volunteer, feeling that it “put him in a better mindset” and “added positivity” to his life. So when he was given the opportunity to work for So What Else as a paid teacher, he couldn’t resist. “So What Else showed me a lot,” shared Daryl. “Teaching is hard, but I like that I can pay it forward and be a good role model for today’s kids.”

At So What Else, our youth programs don’t just end when our students age out. By offering positive, productive opportunities to teens and young adults, we give our students the ability to grow with us and give back to the organization they’ve known since childhood. In doing so, we’re creating an intergenerational community of students, volunteers, teachers, and supporters working together to address the root causes of violence and create a better future for all.

Yesterday’s students are today’s teachers and mentors. When you support So What Else, you’re supporting the creation of productive outlets for young people living in the communities we serve. “I have no idea what I’d be doing if I wasn’t working at So What Else,” said Daryl, reflecting on his life. And we’re glad he’s here working with us.

Sending Donations Where They’re Needed Most

August 29, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

Months ago, our team in North Bethesda received a large donation unlike any other. While the team is used to receiving miscellaneous items and unrecognizable food items, they’d never imagined they’d be asked to take in hundreds of thousands of surgical gowns from Blessed in Tech Ministries. Never one to pass up a donation, they accepted, though at the time, they were unsure when or who they’d give them away to. For months they sat in our warehouse while we searched for someone to take them. But On Monday, July 24th, with the help of FC Group, we were able to send all 253,972lbs of surgical gowns where they will be needed most: the frontlines of Ukraine.

It’s moments like we’re humbled by the scale of our work and the global impact we’re able to have during exchanges such as these. Thank you to FC Group for facilitating this exchange and sending these gowns to a good home.

New Food Pantry Grand Opening

August 2, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

On Saturday, July 22nd, we unveiled our newly relocated Montgomery County Pantry and Thrift Store and were humbled by the outpouring of support we received. Sponsors, dignitaries, and supporters from all over the state joined us in ushering in this newest chapter of the So What Else story and sharing our mission with the world. Notable speakers included representatives from the offices of Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, State Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Laurie-Anne Sayles, and Will Jawando, and Patrick M. Campbell of Montgomery County DHHS. Catering was provided by Mamma Lucia and Sardi’s Restaurants, and coffee was provided by the incredible volunteer team from the Plaza del Mercado Starbucks.

We began the day by tying our festivities to the essence of why we do this work: our clients. Highlighting our Saturday outdoor food distribution, attendees were able to witness firsthand the magnanimity of the food crisis in our community and the thousands of pounds of food we recover in order to end it.

We then gave a tour of the new facility, one of the largest food distribution centers in the State of Maryland, while highlighting the importance of our other efforts to recover items such as clothing, books, diapers, and more.

But the real showstopper was the unveiling of our Brick in the Wall mural, showcasing the many sponsors that donated to help us reach this momentous day. With their support, we were able to find a home where we could not only continue to feed Montgomery County but expand and grow to feed more communities and more counties than ever before. It was only fitting that they have a permanent presence in our home, and we were honored to make them the focal point of the day’s festivities.

The day concluded with speeches, remarks, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony we’ll never forget. While this marks the conclusion of our search to find a new home, our story in North Bethesda is only just beginning, and the need for resources is only growing. Day by day, week by week, the number of clients we serve grows higher, and the need for financial support becomes more pertinent. But it’s not too late to etch your name into this era of So What Else and help us meet this challenge head-on. If you would like to be a part of our ever-growing movement to join us as we continue to write history, click here to donate a brick to our wall. Thank you.

New Food Box Program for Students!

April 11, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

We have recently launched a new initiative to address food insecurity among students. Thanks to the Fowler Foundation’s suggestion, So What Else has developed a food box program that ensures students have access to nutritious meals over the weekends and makes a real difference in the lives of many students.

The program is a perfect example of how we have connected our food and youth missions to make a significant impact on the community. We recognize that hunger can have a profound impact on a student’s academic performance and overall well-being. So, by providing food to these students, we are not only addressing a critical need but also contributing to the development of a healthy and successful future generation. The food boxes contain a variety of healthy foods that students can easily prepare over the weekend. The program aims to ensure that no student goes hungry and that they have the energy and resources they need to succeed in school and beyond.

The program also engages volunteers who pack and decorate the food boxes with the So What Else stickers and tape from Sticker Mule. Sticker Mule has been So What Else’s favorite sticker maker, and their contribution has been crucial in making the program successful. Volunteers are vital to the program’s success, and they not only help pack the boxes but also provide a sense of community and support to the students.

Overall, our new food box program is an excellent example of how we can connect our missions to make a real impact on the community. The program not only addresses food insecurity but also provides opportunities for community involvement and support. Thanks to the Fowler Foundation and Sticker Mule, So What Else can continue to provide nutritious food to students and help them thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Fight Hunger and Host a Food Drive This March!

February 28, 2023/in Blog, Impact, In-Kind Donations, Uncategorized/by raeeichner

Join us in fighting hunger for local families during our final month at our Lakeforest Mall food pantry. You can help support our grand finale by hosting a food drive.

Drop off donations @ Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (Entrance located by Ruby Tuesdays – Look for the GREEN entrance)

Check out the final closing schedule for open drop-off days. More details are on the flyer below.

*We are also accepting donations of children’s t-shirts, undergarments, and socks.

MLK Day of Service 2023!

January 23, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

So What Else had a successful Martin Luther King Day of Service!

On January 15, our team and volunteers participated in environmental clean-ups at multiple spots along Good Hope Rd in DC.

On the 16th, staff and volunteers led a food and warm clothes giveaway at a local homeless shelter, with over 100 meals provided by Nando’s and Panera Bread. A big thank you to all the volunteers, Howard University Athletes in Action, women’s basketball & lacrosse teams, AKA Sorority, One Care D.C., and the USDA.

Also, a big shout out to My Girlfriend’s House, who prepared and donated 100 sandwiches for our families.

Thank you to our caring community for helping make our 2023 MLK weekend so impactful!

We need your help! Help us secure a new pantry space!

January 12, 2023/in Blog, Impact/by raeeichner

Dear Partners, Donors, and Supporters:

So What Else has received some regrettable news that our lease is being terminated at the Lakeforest Mall due to the recent purchase of the space for redevelopment, and we are required to vacate by March 31st, 2023. We are actively searching for a new space to house our pantry headquarters so that we can continue serving our 455,000 clients without disruption. We are reaching out in the hope that you will support us in our search. While we have been fortunate to lease our current space at Lakeforest Mall for a reasonable $1,500 a month, rent at a new location will likely increase by 500%… so we need your support now more than ever.

Our ideal space would be 10,000 – 12,000 sqare feet, with ample indoor and outdoor area to accommodate our services. An easily navigable parking lot for clients to access our free walk-up food pantry with space for our cold storage unit would be ideal, in addition to an indoor space for reception, our free thrift shop, and storage area for diapers, shelf-stable food, and youth programming materials.

So What Else would love to uplift and revitalize an old, abandoned space if one is available and meets our operational needs. Please visit the space before we close and see the incredible work at the Food Pantry from Sunday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, at 701 Russell Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Our services include:

A walk-up pantry where we serve 125,000 meals a week
A free thrift shop with household items and clothing
A youth development storage space
A large storage facility for food pallets and 125,000 diapers

While circumstances are not ideal, we know that with the support of passionate individuals such as yourself, we will find a new location to call home and continue to serve the communities in the area. Please keep in mind that our services and operations will continue throughout the transition, and it is our priority to continue meeting the needs of those we serve without disruption.

If you have insight into locations that may be a fit for us or are interested in making a donation to support this effort, please reach out using the contact information provided below.

With gratitude,

Dave Silbert

CEO/Co-Founder, So What Else, Inc.
Email: dsilbert@sowhatelse.org
Phone: (240) 602-0486
One Preserve Parkway Suite 150, Rockville, Maryland 2085