Food Link closes its doors after 25 years
Thousands of needy people got help from volunteers
Food Link, an Annapolis-based organization that has provided fresh food, vegetables and hope to thousands of needy residents over the past quarter-century, has closed its doors.
“July 1 would have been our 26th anniversary,” said Executive Director Cathy Bird. “We were within spitting distance.”
The volunteer organization closed in late May.
Food Link was launched one day at a large banquet. Founders Susan Hickes and Judy Rachap were at the event — but noticed that attendance was lower than expected because of bad weather.
“Only about 40 percent of the people showed up,” Bird said. “There was a tremendous amount of food left over and they asked what was going to happen to it.”
It was going to be thrown out, they were told.
Rachap, a realtor, and Hickes, a local attorney, decided there was a much better answer — linking that food to people in need — and Food Link was born.
The food rescue mission started small.
The first year some 35,000 pounds went to the hungry, instead of the landfill.
Bird came on board a few years later, but in her first full year the network of connections between food outlets and the needy grew. In that year the donated food topped 250,000 pounds.
“I drank the Kool-Aid. I was in,” Bird said. She became executive director in 2000.
Food Link did what its name suggests.
The group linked caterers, food distributors, restaurants and eventually grocery stores with soup kitchens, food pantries and other outlets for the hungry to get food —not just canned food but fresh food, vegetables, fruits supportive of a healthy lifestyle.
At the organization’s zenith, Food Link averaged 5 million pounds of food donated.
“The last few years we have averaged about 2 million pounds,” Bird said.
The organization opted to close its doors after Bird and operations manager Paula Gordon decided it was time to retire after putting it off for a few years.
The organization’s board recognized it would take a certain budget to be able to hire two people of their experience. The board made an effort to meet that goal — but was unable to do so. The decision was made this spring to close the doors.
Though Food Link did occupy office space in the county office complex on Riva Road it was not supported financially by the taxpayers.
“We applied for the Community Grant Program, which is now gone, and were able to get that a few times,” Bird said.
She said that private donations increased recently but it was not enough to meet the budget demands.
Bird said she will miss the people more that anything, both colleagues and clients.
“To do this work, it is not a job, it’s a calling. You have to have their heart to want to do this work,” Bird said.
“It is very gratifying, which is hard for some people to understand.”
She has seen people at their darkest moment, not being able to put food on the table, not being able to take care of the baby.
“Knowing that strangers, other people care enough to be able to help, that they want to help, can make a significant difference in those people’s lives,” she said.
“The most important gifts we give are nourishment, comfort and hope,” Bird continued. “We have seen thousands of people referred in the office.
People seeking food are now being referred to the Bridge Church on Chinquapin Round Road, which is seeking to expand the services of its food pantry ministry. Individuals and organizations are also being referred to the Anne Arundel County Food And Resource Bank in Crownsville.
There, Executive Director Bruce Michalec is working to fold Food Link’s organization into the operation there.
“We are already coordinating with them and the Maryland Food Bank,” Michalec said. “Other [food distribution] sites will have to join us so we can make sure they meet all the standards — cleanliness and serving all the needy.”
He said the only potential change for those pantries and soup kitchens might be their food pickup site.
“We want to make sure we can help cover any holes,” he said. “We don’t want any food deserts.” pfurgurson@capgaznews.com
“July 1 would have been our 26th anniversary,” said Executive Director Cathy Bird. “We were within spitting distance.”
The volunteer organization closed in late May.
Food Link was launched one day at a large banquet. Founders Susan Hickes and Judy Rachap were at the event — but noticed that attendance was lower than expected because of bad weather.
“Only about 40 percent of the people showed up,” Bird said. “There was a tremendous amount of food left over and they asked what was going to happen to it.”
It was going to be thrown out, they were told.
Rachap, a realtor, and Hickes, a local attorney, decided there was a much better answer — linking that food to people in need — and Food Link was born.
The food rescue mission started small.
The first year some 35,000 pounds went to the hungry, instead of the landfill.
Bird came on board a few years later, but in her first full year the network of connections between food outlets and the needy grew. In that year the donated food topped 250,000 pounds.
“I drank the Kool-Aid. I was in,” Bird said. She became executive director in 2000.
Food Link did what its name suggests.
The group linked caterers, food distributors, restaurants and eventually grocery stores with soup kitchens, food pantries and other outlets for the hungry to get food —not just canned food but fresh food, vegetables, fruits supportive of a healthy lifestyle.
At the organization’s zenith, Food Link averaged 5 million pounds of food donated.
“The last few years we have averaged about 2 million pounds,” Bird said.
The organization opted to close its doors after Bird and operations manager Paula Gordon decided it was time to retire after putting it off for a few years.
The organization’s board recognized it would take a certain budget to be able to hire two people of their experience. The board made an effort to meet that goal — but was unable to do so. The decision was made this spring to close the doors.
Though Food Link did occupy office space in the county office complex on Riva Road it was not supported financially by the taxpayers.
“We applied for the Community Grant Program, which is now gone, and were able to get that a few times,” Bird said.
She said that private donations increased recently but it was not enough to meet the budget demands.
Bird said she will miss the people more that anything, both colleagues and clients.
“To do this work, it is not a job, it’s a calling. You have to have their heart to want to do this work,” Bird said.
“It is very gratifying, which is hard for some people to understand.”
She has seen people at their darkest moment, not being able to put food on the table, not being able to take care of the baby.
“Knowing that strangers, other people care enough to be able to help, that they want to help, can make a significant difference in those people’s lives,” she said.
“The most important gifts we give are nourishment, comfort and hope,” Bird continued. “We have seen thousands of people referred in the office.
People seeking food are now being referred to the Bridge Church on Chinquapin Round Road, which is seeking to expand the services of its food pantry ministry. Individuals and organizations are also being referred to the Anne Arundel County Food And Resource Bank in Crownsville.
There, Executive Director Bruce Michalec is working to fold Food Link’s organization into the operation there.
“We are already coordinating with them and the Maryland Food Bank,” Michalec said. “Other [food distribution] sites will have to join us so we can make sure they meet all the standards — cleanliness and serving all the needy.”
He said the only potential change for those pantries and soup kitchens might be their food pickup site.
“We want to make sure we can help cover any holes,” he said. “We don’t want any food deserts.” pfurgurson@capgaznews.com
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