Baltimore Resident Donates Fresh Catfish to Community

A local fisherman is providing fresh-caught protein to area food pantries to support neighbors in need.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Fishing

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of fish fillets on a wooden table, representing local community food donation efforts. — Derrick Jones, a Baltimore fisherman, is regularly supplying fresh-caught catfish fillets to local food pantries to provide high-quality protein for families in need. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Derrick Jones, a 33-year-old Baltimore resident, regularly delivers fresh-caught catfish to local food pantries and assisted-living facilities. He cleans and fillets his daily catch before distributing the protein to support families throughout the area.

Why it matters

Raised with a strong focus on community service, Jones utilizes his fishing hobby to fill a nutritional gap for families relying on local food pantries. His ongoing commitment provides a steady source of fresh protein to those served by My Caring Hands and other organizations.

Jones regularly reels in an average of 2 dozen fish per outing, with a personal record of 31 catfish caught in a single session. He exclusively uses a PENN Fierce rod-and-reel combo to secure his catch across regional waterways.

The players

Derrick Jones

He is a 33-year-old Costco employee, real estate agent, and Towson University graduate who dedicates his free time to fishing for charity.

Myesha Samples

She serves as a distributor who facilitates the delivery of donated catfish to local families at area food pantries.

The details

Jones traverses waters between Havre de Grace and Annapolis, using shrimp or smaller fish as bait to supply the fresh protein. He processes the fish into freezer-ready fillets before delivering them to recipients like My Caring Hands and plans to expand his efforts to Robert W. Coleman Elementary School.

Derrick Jones graduated from Towson University in 2015.
Jones began his regular fish donations to local pantries in 2022.

Culture Shift

This effort highlights a growing movement where individual residents leverage personal hobbies to address local food insecurity. It reflects a shift toward hyper-local, person-to-person support networks that supplement traditional charitable food distribution models.

Families visiting Baltimore-area pantries may have increased access to fresh, locally sourced protein as a result of these donations. The ongoing effort provides a reliable, high-quality supplement to standard dry-goods offerings at participating food centers.

The takeaway

Individuals can make a meaningful difference in their local community by applying their personal skills and time to address specific needs. Residents looking to support their neighbors may consider volunteering at a local food pantry to help expand reach.