Positioned simply two miles from Oriole Park, The Meals Mission brings culinary, farming and restaurant abilities, employment alternatives, sustainable meals sources, mentorship and hope to the youth of southwestern Baltimore.
Jennifer Grondahl, Senior Vice President of Neighborhood Growth and Communications, Orioles, mentioned: “We have been first launched to The Meals Mission in 2019 and have labored with them ever since. We now have been lucky to recruit at-risk youth from their packages into our ballpark. , and we stay up for partaking extra individuals to proceed giving again to the Baltimore group.”
As a part of the partnership, Orioles and CareFirst have dedicated funding to supply jobs inside The Meals Mission. Jobs embody Operations Managers, Kitchen Managers, Meal Supply Staff and Seedy Nutty Granola Manufacturing Managers, instantly impacting the individuals of Southwest Baltimore.
One of many people who has benefited from this partnership is Operations Supervisor Ashley Dingle. She is described as a powerhouse with a group coronary heart.
Michelle Suazo, Govt Director of The Meals Mission, mentioned: “Her pep talks together with her kids make them wish to work for one thing greater than simply asking for a paycheck.”
Kitchen supervisor Tyshae Jennings is working in direction of her early daycare license, and The Meals Mission helps her open a daycare within the constructing. This daycare can obtain vouchers from younger mother and father who want a job however can’t afford daycare.
Native rising rapper Tyree Johnson helps ship meals. It is not uncommon for members of the group to acknowledge him whereas he’s out delivering and begin singing his poems about getting out of the neighborhood.
Johnson additionally helped launch “The Grind” pop-up store and restaurant on The Meals Mission grounds. The pop-up store and restaurant are named after Troy Rush, a younger member of the Hood His Mission, who was tragically shot lifeless in 2021.
Demonte Palmer is the manufacturing supervisor for Seedy Nutty Granola merchandise. The Meals Mission seeks to develop the social enterprises which are created out of the kitchen to create extra jobs. Ultimately, The Meals Mission want to work with native meals banks to incorporate Seedy Nutty Granola of their meals packing containers.
Along with funding work, Orioles and CareFirst have made it a precedence to present again to meals initiatives in different methods, reminiscent of volunteering within the area.
Final Giving Tuesday, the Orioles held their winter garments drive at Oriole Park. There, O’s workers and followers donated 195 of his winter garments to meals initiatives and distributed them to households in communities in southwest Baltimore.
The Orioles additionally held a Giving Tuesday on-line public sale, the place followers bid on signed objects, in-game memorabilia and unique experiences. Over $5,000 was raised, with all proceeds going to The Meals Mission.
Noting the significance this program performs in the neighborhood, The Meals Mission grew to become Orioles Group Charity in 2021, serving to to lift consciousness of the group all through the group. All through the 2022 season, 32 at-risk youth from The Meals Mission have been employed at Oriole Park and greater than 100 luggage of Seedy Nutty Granola have been bought at Birdland Market.
Each Orioles and CareFirst are dedicated to giving again to their communities and consider this partnership does it the easiest way. Over the subsequent three years, they wish to proceed giving again and exhibiting what The Meals Mission is doing for southwestern Baltimore.
“It is so humorous as a result of individuals would possibly drive by the neighborhood and see all of the crumbling buildings and get scared, however it’s the individuals which are so lovely,” Suazo mentioned. I believe the extra individuals who find out about it, the extra they notice the worth of serving to.”
