For Marci Yankelov, being nominated for the Maryland REALTORS® Good Neighbor Award is an honor, but the recognition reflects something much larger than one individual. It shines a light on the volunteers, community partners, and neighbors who have come together to help fight food insecurity across Baltimore.
A Realtor since 2002, Marci is also one of the co-founders of the Bmore Community Fridge Network, a grassroots initiative that rescues food that might otherwise go to waste and makes it available to those who need it most.
"The Bmore Community Fridge Network really started with a very simple idea," Marci shared. "There is an enormous amount of perfectly good food being wasted while people in our city are struggling to feed themselves and their families."
What began with just a few refrigerators has grown into a network of nearly 40 community fridges, along with pantries and pet pantries throughout Baltimore. Marci saw an opportunity to repurpose refrigerators that homeowners were replacing during renovations, turning what many viewed as unwanted appliances into valuable community resources.
One of the organization's key partners is Catherine's Family and Youth Services, which serves as a community fridge host and helps expand access to food for local families.
For Marci, the most meaningful part of the work has been witnessing the community that has formed around helping others.
"We have thousands of people involved in different ways," she said. "People rescuing food, cooking meals, driving donations across Baltimore, stocking refrigerators, cleaning them, hosting locations, and simply looking out for their neighbors."
Marci believes the idea of being a good neighbor extends far beyond the people living next door.
"Our neighbors are families struggling to make ends meet, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people who don't have transportation, and people who may not even have a safe kitchen where they can prepare a meal," she explained. "Food is such a basic human need."
Throughout her volunteer efforts, Marci has been inspired by countless examples of generosity. She recalled restaurants, businesses, and even grieving families stepping forward to donate food so it could help others rather than go to waste.
"Those moments remind me that this network isn't really about refrigerators," Marci said. "The refrigerators are just the tool. It's about neighbors taking care of neighbors."
Her commitment to serving others has also strengthened her perspective as a real estate professional.
"Real estate is about much more than houses," she said. "It's about communities and the people who live in them."
By connecting people, resources, and opportunities, Marci has found meaningful ways to support both her clients and her community. Whether helping someone buy a home or helping provide food for a family in need, her focus remains the same: building stronger communities through connection and service.
Congratulations to Marci Yankelov on her nomination for the Maryland REALTORS® Good Neighbor Award and thank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of Baltimore families.