By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
Cars lined up long and early Nov. 23 on Forestville’s Marlboro Pike as Prince George’s County residents waited for Wanda Durant’s Family Foundation to start the annual Thanksgiving Turkey meal giveaway.
The event, scheduled to start at 9 a.m., kicked off as planned with police navigating crowds eager to receive turkey and all the trimmings in time to prepare for the holiday season. Durant and several community partner organizations looked forward to spending their pre-Thanksgiving Day morning greeting neighbors, loading cars with food, and sending each family away with a wish for a happy Thanksgiving.
But in just a little over an hour, with cars still waiting to enter the parking lot, 500 turkeys and food boxes were gone. The food giveaway had ended.
“We see there are a lot more people in need. It just breaks my heart because I see that we just don’t have enough,” Durant said.
Across the county in Clinton, Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Sydney J. Harrison and an army of volunteers from Coalition for a Stronger Community and Operation Give Back, were setting up at Surrattsville High School for another turkey giveaway, reaching residents in Prince George’s huge District 9, which covers the entire south end of the county.
Harrison and volunteers were overwhelmed by the number of cars that greeted them as they set up in the parking lot early Nov. 23.
“The need was great. We had 800 cars in the parking lot this morning. We had to open up the lines early to get the cars moving. People were out here at 8 and 9 o clock this morning to get a food box,” said Harrison about the event that was originally scheduled to run from noon to 3 p.m.
Inflation and high food prices are driving more people to fill the gaps with food giveaway events like the ones on Nov. 23, according to Harrison. “Prince George’s County leads the DMV region in food insecurity,” Harrison added.
The National Capital Area Food Bank (NCAFB) released its 2024 Hunger Report in September, confirming 50 percent of Prince George’s County residents have experienced food insecurity this year. Of the seven districts served by the NCAFB, Prince George’s County leads the entire metropolitan area in the percentage of persons who are food insecure. With Covid-19 Pandemic era benefits ending in Prince George’s County and across the DMV, long lines at food giveaways across the region are one signal that more families are struggling with providing the basic needs.
Harrison warned that the government alone can’t resolve the food and economic insecurity issues faced by county residents.
“Government is no different than families who are going through hard times. Our government is going through a hard time. We currently have a $158 million deficit. The need is great and we’re all trying to come together to make sure we can provide the best possible solution to move forward,” Harrison said.
“We all have to come together to expand the partnerships and get our community organizations to be involved,” Harrison ended.
Mary Barnes pulled into the Surrattsville High School parking lot to get a turkey and food box for her dad just a few minutes after supplies ran out. “Things are a little tighter out just here right now. People are a little worried about who is going to be in the White House come January, so people are holding tight to whatever they’ve got,” she said.
“But Black people know how to eat beans and rice. We know how to survive,” Barnes said resolutely.
Wanda Durant looked out at the cars lined up for a Thanksgiving meal and pondered the challenges of steering her foundation to meet Prince George’s County’s growing food insecurity and economic needs.
“I am a woman of faith. I am aware of the problem. But I am not afraid. Our stakeholders and community partners with a heart to serve have to come together and meet the need,” Durant said.
“I know the God I serve will honor our compassion and heart for one another and make a way.”
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