On December 6, 2010, Shapiro employees gathered to volunteer at the Food Bank and do their part in the fight against hunger in the state of Maryland.

The Maryland Food Bank, an affiliate of Feeding America, was founded in 1979 to coordinate the procurement and distribution of food donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and government agencies to organizations providing free food to people in need.

The corporate initiative was spearheaded by Janell Rotella, Accounting Manager for Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc. In addition to making a financial contribution, 103 pounds of food were donated and four Shapiro employees volunteered on company time preparing food and placing them in vacuum sealed bags for the needy.

Last year, the Maryland Food Bank distributed more than 18.6 million pounds of food to hungry Marylanders across the state. The mission of the organization is “to lead the movement and nurture the belief that together we can improve the lives of Marylanders by ending hunger.” The organization heavily counts on volunteers to make its mission a reality. “Not only was it rewarding giving back but we also had the opportunity to learn about the different ways the MD Food Bank contributes to the community,” noted Dottie Reed, MD Food Bank volunteer and Customer Service Representative for Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc. “They do a remarkable job in helping people in need and I was grateful to share this experience with my Shapiro colleagues.”

For more information on the Maryland Food Bank or to make a donation, visit their website at http://www.mdfoodbank.org.