We often don’t think of food shortages during this bountiful time of year on the Eastern Shore, but food is still scarce to some residents of the Mid Shore living in poverty or in homelessness. During the summer months, Haven Ministries Food Pantry, held on the third Friday monthly at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville from 5:30 to 7 p.m., helps about 100 people a month needing food assistance.

According to Krista Pettit, Executive Director of Haven Ministries, “In July, we experienced the largest number of people to date at the Food Pantry. There were 106 families served, with 317 people in these households. Of the 317 people, 179 were adults, 104 were children and 34 were seniors.”

Haven Ministries Food Pantry participates in the Maryland Food Bank’s Farm to Food Bank Program, which is now in its 7^th year on the Eastern Shore. According to Jennifer Small of the Maryland Food Bank, the Farm to Food Bank Program receives over one million pounds of fresh produce, both donated and purchased, from its farming partnerships here on the Shore. She adds, “There are 45,000 food-insecure people on the Eastern Shore. Produce is made available to our 174 network partners on the Eastern Shore, including Haven Ministries, for distribution to their communities.”

Amy Cawley, the Farm to Food Bank Coordinator, says that statewide there are about 60 farmers participating in the program and 40 of these farmers are from the Eastern Shore. She states, “Farmers want to help people. It’s a win for the farmer, it’s a win for the Food Bank and it’s a win for the recipients.”

The Farm to Food Bank Program provides seasonal produce during the growing seasons on the Eastern Shore. Produce is either donated, purchased or gleaned from fields from what is left behind after the harvest. Volunteers help with the gleaning process. Spring and summer produce includes strawberries, blackberries, sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, squash, cantaloupes, green peppers, eggplant and watermelons. In fall, the program can offer butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash, apples, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards and turnips. During the off season, produce is purchased.

According to Amy, farms participate from Kent to Worcester counties with the heart of the farms in Caroline, Dorchester and Queen Anne counties. Among the farms participating in Queen Anne’s County are Arnold Farms, Godfreys Farms, Homestead Farms, Kent Fort Farm, Mason’s Farm Produce and Lowery’s Produce.

On September 25, Haven Ministries will host its First “Putting a Roof Over Homelessness” Golf Tournament at Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville. The Golf Tournament is sponsored by The Roof Center and will benefit all of the programs of Haven Ministries, including the Food Pantry.

The deadline for Golf Tournament registration is September 8. The cost per player is $125, which includes greens fee, cart, range balls, continental breakfast, beverages on course, lunch after golf and prizes. Registration may be submitted online at haven-ministries.org/golf-tournament or by requesting a brochure and registration form from hmgolf17@gmail.com. Registration forms are also available at Our Daily Thread Thrift Store. To support Haven Ministries, call Krista Pettit at 410-739-4363 or visit haven-ministries.org.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people and hope prevails at Haven Ministries.  Haven Ministries operates a Resource Center at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with job training, educational programming and case management services.  The Haven Ministries Food Pantry is held on the third Friday monthly at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Our Daily Thread Thrift Store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information about Haven Ministries, visit haven-ministries.org or call 410-739-4363.