SALISBURY, MD – Delmarva Public Media (DPM) and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) recently donated a combined $5,000 to the Maryland Food Bank following DPM’s annual end-of-year campaign.
Comprised of Salisbury University’s WSCL 89.5 FM and WSDL 90.7 FM, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s WESM 91.3 FM, the three-station DPM partnership pledged 10 percent of contributions it received during the final six weeks of 2020 to the food bank. CFES agreed to match those funds up to $2,500.
“The outpouring of support from our listeners was tremendous,” said Gerry Weston, DPM general manager. “Their contributions not only will allow us to continue providing locally and nationally produced public radio programming throughout the region, but also will ensure local families have food on the table at a time when the economic impact of COVID-19 is making that a challenge for many.”
“This pandemic is a crisis unlike any other that the Maryland Food Bank has experienced,” said Jennifer Small, senior regional program director for the Maryland Food Bank Eastern Shore Branch. “The Maryland Food Bank was built for this. We are providing individuals with one of the most critical needs, food, across the state – locally right here on the Eastern Shore.
“The generous support of Delmarva Public Media and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore will contribute to this work greatly.”
Prior to the onset of COVID-19, the food bank’s Maryland Hunger Map showed that nearly 1.5 million residents experienced food insecurity. COVID-19-related job losses and other circumstances have added nearly a million more to that total, Small said. Since the coronavirus began affecting portions of the state in March, the amount of food distributed by the organization has increased by 89 percent, or approximately 43 million pounds.
“When DPM shared this collaborative fundraising idea with us, we were excited to join forces and encourage others to give to lessen food insecurity locally,” said Erica Joseph, CFES president. “Partnerships between the Community Foundation and local non-profits like DPM allow us to build stronger communities and inspire local philanthropy.”
For more information about the Maryland Food Bank, visit www.mdfoodbank.org.
DPM serves listeners regionally in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, and worldwide via online streaming. For more information, call 410-543-6220 or visit the DPM website at www.delmarvapublicmedia.org.
Delmarva Public Media (DPM) Development Director Anne Young, Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore President Erica Joseph, Maryland Food Bank Eastern Shore Branch Senior Regional Program Director Jennifer Small, DPM General Manager Gerry Weston and DPM Membership Coordinator Patty Lanious.
