16 local organizations that work to end childhood hunger were awarded grants to create or expand strategies that address food insecurity.
The Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience and the county Office of Grants Management awarded the funding.
Eight organizations received grants through the county’s school-based food assistance program, five received funds through the Food as Medicine program and five received grants though the SNAP Outreach Grant Program.
These programs are in partnerships with kindergarten through 12th grade schools and pediatric healthcare providers or are in direct outreach to residents.
“Seeing children in need of healthy food has always motivated me to ensure that students are being properly fed and nurtured,” said County Executive Marc Elrich.
“Montgomery County’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger, along with our funding commitments and prioritization of this issue, is bringing aid to families who need it most. I appreciate the partnerships with the County Council, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Grants Management, and the Office of Food Systems Resilience to provide these grants so expeditiously,” Elrich wrote in a news release.
“Taking a multifaceted approach and engaging community partners, particularly those integrated with our education and healthcare systems, is a critical strategy to effectively address the racial and income disparities that characterize food insecurity in the County while simultaneously centering food sovereignty and dignity,” said Heather Bruskin, director of the County’s Office of Food Systems Resilience.
In December of 2023, the county allocated more than $11 million for programs consistent with the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger.
The organizations that received funding and their associated projects are listed below.
FY24 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program Awardees:
- Community Farm Share provides locally grown, culturally relevant fresh produce to families at five MCPS sites.
- Manna Food Center establishes new food pantries at two MCPS high schools, supports the expansion of food pantries at two MCPS elementary schools, and provides grocery gift cards at four MCPS schools.
- Nourishing Bethesda provides pre-packed snack bags at three MCPS elementary schools and supports the expansion of a food pantry at one MCPS high school.
- Rainbow Community Development Center distributes pre-packed bags of shelf-stable and produce items at two MCPS schools.
- Shepherd’s Table provides prepared meals for families at one MCPS school.
- Small Things Matter provides pre-packed bags of shelf-stable and produce items at one MCPS school.
- So What Else facilitates onsite food pantries and pre-packed grocery distributions at five MCPS schools.
- The Upcounty Hub provides snack bags and family-sized food boxes for seven MCPS schools.
FY24 Food as Medicine Grant Program Awardees:
- Adventist Healthcare partnership with One Acre Farm and Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER)
- Holy Cross Health, Germantown, partnership with Community FarmShare
- Casa Ruben partnership with Centro de Apoyo Familiar
- Community FarmShare partnership with the MCPS School-Based Health and Wellness Centers
- Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER) partnership with the MCPS School-Based Health and Wellness Centers
FY24 SNAP Outreach Grant Program Awardees:
