Food insecurity remains a pressing problem for tens of thousands of County residents. County Executive Marc Elrich and the County Council say they are committed to finding workable solutions. They want to provide better access to food for people in the short-term and establish long-term policy goals.
Last year, the Council approved the creation of a new office to address food needs in the County. The Food Systems Resilience Office began operating last February. Its director, Heather Bruskin, has been in the job for less than six months.
“The ideas and the realization that an office like this within government was really critical actually grew out of lessons learned during the pandemic response. The County convened a Food Security Task Force, which was co-led by the Montgomery County Food Council, the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services,” Bruskin said.
“During the pandemic there was skyrocketing food insecurity. There was a need for really innovative and creative strategies to address food- related issues that arose. There really, was to that point, not an existing entity within government that was looking at food specifically. If we really want to build strategies and shift systems, we needed to intentionally look at food through a different lens,” Bruskin added.
Battle Against Food Insecurity
While the Covid-19 crisis has waned, some people in government along with community leaders agree food insecurity is worse now than during the pandemic. They cite inflation and a rollback in federal money provided during the pandemic as the main reasons for food insecurity today.
The County has more than 100 nonprofit organizations that help with food distribution in the community. Many of them are faith-based groups. Bruskin said these groups provide an invaluable service but she said government also has an important role.
“There are a lot of things that only the government can do. That includes everything from shepherding federal funds in a crisis to leveraging our procurement tools, our infrastructure, and most importantly, legislation and policy making to really enhance and partner with the work of the community,” Bruskin explained.
“During COVID, there was a dramatic infusion of resources and a dramatic increase in need. With resources being fewer, we need to set processes in place to be much more strategic and data driven. But it is also really important to lean into the expertise and the strength of our community. We have community based organizations that are designed to meet the needs of specific populations and geographic communities. A universal approach is not going to meet the needs of every single resident,” Bruskin added.
The Maine native previously worked with nonprofit organizations for 20 years. She spent 10 years working on food-related issues. She said this is her first time working in government.
Seeking Data
Bruskin told MCM one of her first missions is to collect data. Her office wants to see how widespread the problem of food insecurity is in the County. She is hiring two staff members who will assist in that effort. They will begin their work later this month.
“It is really difficult to think strategically about food, without data. So that is a really important part of our first effort to establish a baseline. I have been really committed the past few months to developing partnerships across County government because food impacts every single resident, and every single agency. It is identifying who’s working on what, and how can we develop structures to build collaboration,” Bruskin said.
Long Term Goals
She said her long term goals are to establish ways for residents to “access food they choose whether it is purchasing food, growing food, or pursuing food as an employment opportunity.”
“We certainly have unique challenges in terms of systemic inequities and disparities that exist in our food system and the way residents have access to food and opportunity. We have an incredibly diverse community that is paired with a political will and commitment to this work,” she said.
Community Input Encouraged
Bruskin said she wants residents to know they can have a voice in the process.
“I really envision establishing a two-way feedback loop to hear from the residents,” Bruskin explained.
“We are listening to the community to make sure the strategies and the investments we are making are actually working, and addressing the challenges that truly exist,” Bruskin added.
She said her office also will communicate to the community the programs and tools that are available to help residents. Bruskin said she is confident the County’s leaders will stay committed towards achieving food justice for residents.
