Frederick, Maryland - The Frederick Soup Kitchen and Frederick Foodbank Programs, both operated by the Frederick Community Action Agency (FCAA), are in need of your help and financial support. In continuous operation since 1984, the Frederick Soup Kitchen serves a hot evening meal, seven nights a week, 365 days a year to as many as 110 hungry people a night. The Frederick Soup Kitchen serves over 23,000 nutritious meals annually through the efforts of a paid cook and approximately 200 dedicated volunteers. We need your financial support to continue to operate the soup kitchen - your tax-deductible donation will be used to pay the cook's salary and to purchase necessary food items for the free evening meal.

The Frederick Foodbank, in operation since 1983, provides a 3- to 5-day supply of food to families and individuals who are facing an economic crisis and cannot afford to buy their groceries. Many of the families served through the Foodbank are very low-income and struggle each and every month to afford both the rent and the groceries for their families. The Frederick Foodbank is now serving between 350 to 450 families each month; families are permitted to use the Foodbank twice a month or more often in the event of an emergency. Your tax-deductible donation will be used to purchase food items and to help cover operating costs associated with running a large Foodbank.

Over the years, the Soup Kitchen and Foodbank have operated, almost exclusively, through donations and contributions. At present, the Soup Kitchen and Foodbank programs are in need of monetary donations to support on-going operations. The goal for this fundraiser is $80,000, which will support program operations through 2007. Any additional funds that are raised will be used to support the operation of other FCAA programs such as the Primary Care Clinic, the Medbank Program, and the Transitional Shelter for Homeless Families. Please help to keep the Soup Kitchen and the Foodbank open and operational by mailing your contribution to the Frederick Community Action Agency, 100 South Market Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Donations are tax-deductible and checks should be made payable to the Friends for Neighborhood Progress, Inc. - the tax-exempt, non-profit corporation that sponsors the work of the Frederick Community Action Agency.

The enclosed Annual Report further describes the programs and services operated by the Frederick Community Action Agency. For more information please contact Mike Spurrier, Director at 301-600-1506 or by email at mspurrier@cityoffrederick.