There Is A Surprising Need In Severna Park And Beyond

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SPAN is known primarily for being a food pantry. Our shelves are full thanks to this generous community. So many individuals and groups make what we do possible. We just had more than 2,000 pounds of food donated through Scouting for Food by groups including Troop 993, Pack 918 and Pack 855.

Sometimes we forget there are food-insecure families in our area. We have clients who are going through a crisis such as a loss of a job, a car accident or a health crisis, and the food is a big help. Some of our clients are on fixed budgets and the food is a blessing.

In addition to food, SPAN has always helped with emergency financial assistance for people facing evictions, utility turn-offs and medical expenses. Recently, that part of what we do has shifted to become a major focus. In the last couple of months, we have helped twice as many households with emergency financial assistance as we have helped households with food. In January and February, SPAN helped clients with a total of $55,000 in emergency financial aid. We have helped with as much financial assistance in the first six months of this fiscal year as SPAN typically does in an entire year. In the last year, since the pandemic supports have ended, the amount of financial assistance SPAN provides has been higher than the value of food we have given each month. Other faith-based groups and nonprofits are seeing similar trends.

A lot of different pieces are making these especially difficult times for those struggling. Prices are higher. All of the pandemic supports are finished or will end in the coming weeks. Additionally, some of our clients, or their family members, have health issues that impact their ability to work a full-time job and they have additional medical expenses.

On March 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits reverted to their pre-pandemic amounts. We had a client with five children tell us that her assistance dropped from $850 to $150. The extra emergency allotments have ended, with families losing at least $95 per month. Some households, including larger ones with children, have lost an average of $223 per month. Food prices have increased in those three years. These higher prices impact all of us, especially those who are stretching a fixed set of dollars.

Some, as they stretch dollars for food, also need to make tough decisions on how to prioritize and pay their bills. The pandemic supports, which, for example, gave more time with utility turn-off notices, are all ending. Eviction bans are finished, rents are high, courts are back to running full speed and the federal rental assistance is running out.

This community has been a wonderful support for SPAN for so many years. You make our work possible. Your financial donations are especially appreciated these days. Thank you for helping us help others.

SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods) is an independent nonprofit food pantry and emergency services provider that has been helping local families with eviction prevention, utility turnoffs, medical/prescription bills and food since 1990. SPAN serves 14 zip codes in Anne Arundel County. SPAN is located behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church at 400 Benfield Road in Severna Park. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10:00am-1:30pm. For more information, call 410-647-0889, email spanhelps@yahoo.com or visit www.spanhelps.org. Financial donations may be made through the website. Food donations may be dropped off 24/7 using the storage bin behind SPAN’s building.

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