Food for Montgomery is a public-private partnership that brings together the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Montgomery County Council and Government, Montgomery County Food Council, nonprofits & faith-based food providers, farmers, small businesses, and hundreds of generous neighbors who believe no one should go hungry in our community. Together, we are addressing the stunning increase in food insecurity due to COVID-19.
The Need
As thousands lost work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people facing food insecurity in Montgomery County grew from 63,000 to 114,000 by the end of 2020. Children, seniors with limited incomes, and the working poor struggled to put food on the table.
In addition to the dramatic increase need, nonprofits and faith-based organizations were challenged by plummeting food donations, massive disruptions to the food supply chain, and a significant drop in their volunteer workforce.
Our community had to act fast to prevent our neighbors from going hungry. And now, despite millions of federal, state, and local dollars devoted to this issue, the crisis is outlasting the money.
Our Response
The Food for Montgomery initiative has three goals:
Through a coordinated public-private approach, Food for Montgomery maximizes the impact of each dollar given. Over the past year, Food for Montgomery has:
Doubled the number of new food distribution sites throughout the county to improve accessibility
Provided grants for trucks, refrigerators, freezers, and other equipment so food providers can serve more people
Created eight Consolidation Hubs which address hunger-relief and other emergency needs while also connecting residents to long terms solutions to help them work back to stability.
Purchased fresh produce and made investments to help sustain our local farmers
Engaged restaurants and caterers to provide prepared meals to ensure seniors, people with disabilities, families in crisis, and those recovering from COVID-19 could get enough food while they self-quarantine
The Work Ahead
Even though Montgomery County has officially reopened and vaccination rates are some of the best in the nation, the fact is there is no vaccination for hunger. Even now, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc for thousands of people struggling without work, without childcare, and without certainty.
We need to transition from emergency services to recovery mode while still ensuring food insecure people can access nutritious food. Equally important, we need to leverage the momentum to push for long-term transformational change that will create a more equitable and resilience food security system.
How You Can Help
This is an unprecedented challenge which will require the leadership and commitment of our entire community. Together, we can ensure that no one goes hungry in Montgomery County.
Become an Ambassador and share the story and successes of Food for Montgomery while raising funds for this important mission. Contact us.
Contribute now to ensure that despite the immense pressures of the pandemic and economy, no one in Montgomery County goes hungry.
The Faces and Stories of COVID-19
Diana, was a high school senior when her mother succumbed to COVID-19 in March then her grief-stricken father died of a heart attack. With nowhere else to go, Diana and her younger brother moved in with their older sister’s family.
Now six people share a one-bedroom apartment, including three MCPS students trying to keep up with virtual learning.
The expanded food distribution through Food for Montgomery partners have made sure Diana and her family have plenty of healthy food, supporting Diana as she re-builds her life and continues her education at Montgomery College.
Did you know?
Montgomery County’s food security partners distributed five times as much food in May 2020 as they did in all of 2019.
Due to COVID-19, in Montgomery County, there are now:
18% fewer hospitality jobs
30% fewer jobs with salaries under $27,000
22% fewer small businesses than before the pandemic