THEO: WELCOME BACK. I AM IN THE PENTHOUSE, WE ARE HOSTING THE GIVING TUESDAY PHONE-A-THON. WE NEED YOU TO CALL IN TO DONATE TO THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK, THEY DO SO MUCH TO HELP THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY. I HAVE THE SENIOR VP OF THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK, THANK YOU. THE FIRST THING FOLKS WANT TO KNOW IS, WHERE IS THERE MONEY GOING WHEN THEY CALL IN? >> THEY HLP SUPPORT FOOD PURCHASE, WE ARE PURCHASING MORE FOOD. WE ARE ALSO PURCHASING MORE FOOD AT HIGHER COSTS. FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT HELP ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER. WHAT CREATES FINANCIAL INSTABILITY THAT CREATES FOOD INSECURITY. THEO: OBVIOUSLY INFLATION AND THE RISING PRICES OF GROCERIES, HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOUR ORGANIZATION? >> WE ARE PAYING DOUBLE THE COST PER POUND THAT WE WERE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. $.45 PER POUND TO $.88 PER POUND. SO WE ARE FEELING THE STRETCH. THEO: FOOD DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED AT YOUR FACILITY. BUT THESE MONETARY DONATIONS, THE FUNDS PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN NOW, THE NUMBER IS ON YOUR SCREEN. THEY GO FURTHER, BECAUSE YOU CAN STRETCH THE DOLLAR. >> WITH OUR PURCHASING POWER, WE CAN MAKE A DOLLAR GO FURTHER. FOR EVERY DOLLAR DONATED, WE CAN PROVIDE TWO MEALS. THEO: TALK ABOUT THE NEED. HOW GREAT IS IT? >> WE ARE STILL REELING FROM THE EFFECTS OF COVID, WE ARE SEEING THE GREAT NEED FOR MARYLANDERS. PEOPLE ARE PAYING ABOUT $400 MORE PER MONTH ON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAN A YEAR AGO. THEO: THANK YOU AGAIN, HAPPY GIVING TUESDAY. THE NUMBER IS ON YOUR SCREEN, WE WILL BE OUT HERE TAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS UNTIL 8:00 TONIGHT.