EWE Spirit Grant Recipient Story:
In early 2019, Anne Arundel county resident Chuck Yocum was visiting his hometown of Morgantown, WV. After learning about an in-school program helping bridge the gaps for students in need, he wondered if children in Anne Arundel county were facing similar challenges. After a visit to a local elementary school, he learned the need was great in his own community.
Chuck contacted friend and fellow long time Anne Arundel county resident, Susan Coakley, with his idea. Together, they created Caring Cupboard in June 2019. It began with just one elementary school that Caring Cupboard supplied with food for the school counselor to hand out to students in need. The response to the first in-school location was so positive that several other locations were launched in a matter of weeks. As Susan told us, “Students can’t learn when they are hungry!”
The spring of 2020 and the COVID pandemic brought new challenges. With schools shut down, Caring Cupboard pivoted to home deliveries and drive-thru pop-up pantries. At a time where the need was so great throughout the community, Caring Cupboard rose to the challenge. They opened a stand-alone facility and expanded with two new programs: Project Bloom, which provides feminine hygiene products to school health rooms, and The Little Free Pantry Program, which supplies small freestanding pantries with food available 24/7. The Little Free Pantry Program has now expanded to 17 small pantries, 6 of which stand outside Anne Arundel County Public Libraries.
Today, Caring Cupboard also operates a food and personal hygiene pantry and a baby pantry out of their Pasadena, MD headquarters while continuing to support several schools. Through more support the effort has continued to grow, now through a mobile food pantry as well. What started as a small passion project has grown to multi-tiered program helping 300 to 350 families a month.
From the start, the community has rallied around the cause. Whether it’s youth organizations hosting food drives or volunteering, they are the biggest boosters. To support Caring Cupboard, volunteer opportunities are available and donations, monetary or food, are always welcome. EWE Spirit is always on the lookout for organizations and members of the community making a difference for those among us facing urgent and immediate needs, and we’re thrilled to have found Caring Cupboard and to be able to support them.
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