Orioles Wives Food Drive Offers Hope as Donations Drop

The summer is a particularly critical time for food banks such as the Maryland Food Bank, since warmer weather and vacations often move the plight of hunger to the “backseat.” While the Maryland Food Bank receives 48 percent of the entire year’s food donations during the months of November and December, just fewer than seven percent of the year’s total food donations are given in June, July and August.

One way to fight these dipping donations is the 24th Annual Orioles Wives Food Drive. A partnership between the Maryland Food Bank, WJZ-TV, the Baltimore Orioles Wives and Advocates, the on-site drive takes place July 15 to 17 at Camden Yards during the Orioles vs. Cleveland Indians series.  WJZ-TV anchors and reporters, Orioles players and wives as well as Maryland Food Bank employees and volunteers, will collect non-perishable foods and funds at all entry gates during the first two complete innings of each of the weekend’s three games. Game times are 7:05 p.m. July 15 and 16 and 1:35 p.m. July 17. Tickets may be purchased here. Last year, the Orioles Food Drive collected more than 2,000 pounds of food and nearly $20,000 for the Maryland Food Bank.

Those who do not attend the games can contribute online at a virtual food drive (www.mdfoodbank.org/orioles).  For every $10 of food purchased, contributors will be entered into a drawing to win two tickets and the chance to throw the first pitch at the July 15 game.  The virtual food drive ends at 10 a.m. July 11 and the winner will be notified at that time.

Most-needed food items are: peanut butter, canned chicken, canned tuna, oatmeal, breakfast cereals and canned fruit and vegetables.  Studies show that approximately 466,000 Marylanders (or 12 percent of the state’s population) are considered “food-insecure” or hungry. 

For more information, go to www.mdfoodbank.org/orioles.