Baltimore cookout offers free meals and groceries to 200 families this weekend

A Baltimore organisation is hosting a food distribution cookout this weekend to support local families. KEYS Empowers will provide meals and groceries at the event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at 1511 Ashburton Street. The group also wants feedback from neighbours on plans for a new community facility. The Saturday event aims to help families who struggle without daily access to the school district’s free meal programme. Around 200 families are expected to attend, with each child receiving a backpack filled with food staples and easy-to-prepare meal kits. A barbecue lunch, groceries, and music from a DJ will also be part of the day.

KEYS Empowers is currently building a new facility called KEYS Community Healing Village. Once completed towards the end of next summer, the centre plans to serve meals to 300 families every day of the year. Organiser Muhammad has invited neighbours to share their ideas for what should be included inside the new space. The cookout will offer immediate food support while gathering input for the future facility. After opening, the organisation intends to provide daily meals and resources for hundreds of families. The event marks a step toward expanding their services in the community.