People holding wooden crates filled with vegetables

With funding from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the Worcester County Health Department has created the Cooking up Health: A Nourishing Neighbors Program in partnership with local organizations, to increase access to healthy food, boost nutrition and financial literacy, and reduce food insecurity. Read more to find out what this program is bringing to Worcester County.

Cooking Up Health Program

Cooking Up Health Program Flyer for Pocomoke.

The Cooking Up Health multi-session program was created in partnership with the University of Maryland Extension. The program is 6 weeks long and free-of-charge. This class is going to empower you with the skills you need to eat healthier, save money, and reduce food waste.

Upcoming Session Details:

Our next class session begins September 14th in Snow Hill.

Register for our Snow Hill class using the form below. For questions, please call 410-632-1100 ext. 1108.

Community Gardens

Community Behavioral Health: 107 E Market St., Snow Hill, MD.
Corner Sanctuary: 327 Clarke Ave., Pocomoke, MD.
Pocomoke High School: 1817 Old Virginia Rd., Pocomoke City, MD.
Worcester Technical High School: 6270 Worcester Hwy., Newark, MD.

Seed Libraries

Funds have been awarded to the Worcester County Library, who have purchased two "mobile" teaching kitchens and established three Seed Libraries.

Seed Libraries are located at:

Pocomoke Library: 401 5th Street, Unit 100, Pocomoke City, MD. (temporary location)
Berlin Library: 13 Harrison Avenue, Berlin, MD.
Snow Hill Library: 307 North Washington Street, Snow Hill, MD.

Pop-Up Farmer's Market

Person holding wooden crate filled with vegetables

Funding has been awarded to Cross Farms to provide a "pop-up" farmer's market. The market runs every Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Flower St. in Berlin (weather permitting.) You can find more information about Cross Farms on their Facebook.

Food Pantry Boxes

Worcester Tech Students

Students from Worcester Tech were able to build three of the Food Pantry boxes for community partners! These food pantry boxes are intended for residents to access free, healthy, shelf-stable foods.

Food Pantry Box Locations (more to come):
-Worcester Youth & Family Counseling Services Inc. (124 N. Main St., Suite C., Berlin, MD.) This pantry is in the rear of the building on the intersection of N. Main St. and Broad St. in downtown Berlin, and will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information about this Food Pantry Box, view the Worcester Youth & Family Counseling Services Food Pantry Flyer

Year 1 Success Summary:

5093 individuals screened for food insecurity
80% of program participants reported an improved in food insecurity as a result of participation in the Cooking up Health class
22 Pop Up Farmers Markets supported with 206 county residents served and provided access to produce
98 residents benefited for the "Double Up" program and were able to double the amount of produce they purchased at "Pop Up" farmers markets (WIC, EBT beneficiaries)
4 Community gardens supported which served 1190 county residents and distributed over 1111 pounds of produce
2 Little Food Pantries boxes placed in the community which allowed access to healthy, non-perishable foods and beverages 24/7
771 produce seeds distributed as part of "Seed" Libraries
2 Mobile teaching kitchens purchased and place in public library locations
37 county residents participated in multi-session " Cooking up Health" nutrition, cooking, financial literacy and food preservation class
A total of 1,886 county residents benefited from the programs and services offered through the Cooking up Health Program in calendar year 2025