by Heather McElhatton

The Maryland Food Bank is one of the biggest, and oldest, food banks in America. It distributes 48 million pounds of food every year, and deliver over a hundred thousand meals every single day. But the Maryland Food Bank believes the way to end hunger is NOT just with food.

Ania Pettigrew: I love pasta. It's a big problem, (laughs) but I love it. HM: As a litle girl Ania (Ah-nee-ah) Pettigrew loved watching her great grandmother cook, She made big meals for the family and baked for their local church. But growing up, Ania's family also knew hard times, and what is was like to be hungry .

AP: I've been in that situation, so I know that it's really hard. Food. No t being able to give that to yourself or to your children. It's heartbreaking. think about how much you personally waste. How much we take for granted. we see so much on a plate that gets wasted, me personally thats a big pet peeve for me when I see people scrape their plates into the trash.

HM: Now, Ania is dedicated to making a better life for her family. She's enrolled in Food Works, a cooking program at the Maryland Food bank. They teach low-income students how to prepare food professionally and then helps them get jobs. what makes Food Works even more compelling, is students learn to cook with 95% donated food. and Executive Director Tim regan says they get A LOT of donated food coming through their doors.

TR: We get 25 to 30 thousand pounds of chicken a week. From one source. HM: Normally a food bank would struggle to distribute that much raw chicken, and a lot of it would need to be thrown away, but Foodworks takes that chicken and teaches low-income students how to prepare it, cook it and get it to people who need it - taking pressure off food banks, waste management systems, and landfills. Jamal Braxton has been in the Food Works program for over a month

JB: I can eat breakfast all day anyday

and says his class is already like family.

JB: I definitely think I've grown a little, because I've learned about helping different people in their walks of life, homeless people, elderly people, young kids. I've just grown a little. It's a great program and I think everyone can come and just get something from it because honestly it's like really life changing program.

HM: Graduates recieve culinary certification from the Community College of Baltimore County, and manager-level food safety certification, which allows them to start jobs at a higher wage. TR: We've got students all over the culinary industry in central Maryland. We've got them at very high end restaurants and in public schools. We really try to place our graduates based on their strength and based on their interests. we had one employer recently who wanted to hire a whole class (laughs) you know 20 people. we've been really blessed by how well we've been able to place students to date.HM: rather than just providing meals, Foodworks believes by training students and getting them jobs, they're taking control of all their meals of come. case in point - After graduation, Ania Pettigrew hopes to open her soul food restaurant.

AP: Soul food is traditionally very fattening, very high and cholesterol, a lot of bad things for your body. So when I do what I'm going to do, I want to make sure that it's more healthy. to be able to do that is something major and a huge blessing.

HM: find out more about the Food Works Program at the Maryland Food Bank online at the Water Main website. I'm Heather McElhatton....MPR News

This story was produced with help from the Water Main at MPR, helping Americans understand the value of water in our everyday lives.

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