Community Rallies For Meal Pickups During School Closures

BERLIN – Local businesses, organizations and churches are spearheading efforts to ensure no child goes hungry while schools are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When Governor Larry Hogan announced last week that all Maryland public schools would close from March 16 to March 27 to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), members of the community began mobilizing support to ensure students that typically benefit from school meal programs continued to receive food.

Within hours of Hogan’s press conference, for example, Baked Dessert Cafe owner Robin Tomaselli and her staff launched an initiative to provide free food to students in need during the two-week closure.

“Many people don’t know that some students rely on school programs for breakfast, lunch and dinner …,” she said. “Our knee-jerk reaction was to do something to help.”

That effort, however, quickly grew. And by the next morning, Tomaselli said she was inundated with offers of help and messages from those wishing to donate nonperishable items.

“The response has been completely overwhelming …,” she said. “Our community has been generous and kind.”

Now, the café is working with several community partners – including SonRise Church, the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department, The Iron Horse, Boxcar 40, Willards Lions Club and Uncle Willies – to collect and distribute nonperishable items to students in need.

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