HALETHORPE, Md (WMAR) — It’s not just healthcare that families with COVID-19 have to worry about. For some, it’s about how to feed their children. A nonprofit in Baltimore County is doing everything they can to help.
"A little baby that we feed is 8 months old and his mom happens to be incarcerated right now," said Bobbi Coffman, executive director of Happy Helpers for the Homeless.
Coffman's daughter started the organization when she was just 10 years old. 28 years later, they are feeding hundreds of people. Now more than ever because of the pandemic.
"We are feeding more people in the streets. We are feeding more children. More children are being referred to us. Our needs have gone up," said Coffman.
It includes 5 families that tested positive for COVID-19.
"In one of those families, the father was in Johns Hopkins ICU for nearly 6 weeks," said Coffman.
One Anne Arundel County mother who was helped said her family has recovered and she’s grateful Happy Helpers stepped in.
"It was very helpful. It helped a lot," she said.
With the increase in need, happy helpers needs some help. A big donation from Beltsville Academy Monday will go out this weekend for Father's Day.
"They are going to feel so cared about from what Beltsville Academy has done," said Coffman.
Before school closed because of the pandemic, students put together one hundred shoe boxes full of water, food and toiletries. Coffman hopes to keep donations coming as she tries to keep stock up.
"Stores still don’t always have enough or stores have limits on how much I can buy so I’m shopping non-stop," said Coffman.
And she will keep doing it as much as she needs to, to continue serving the families in need.
"If people only knew what people are facing, it’s shocking," said Coffman.
She is always looking for monetary donations, and donations of canned goods, juice and toiletries dropped off at the Halethorpe warehouse.
They serve families in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Caroline County and have distributions every weekend.
