The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Manna Food Center are hosting the 31st Annual “Give and Ride Food Drive” from Sunday, May 26, to Saturday, June 1. MCDOT requests donations of non-perishable food items on any MCDOT Ride On bus or at designated drop-off sites. Bus riders who donate will have their fare waived.
“Montgomery County is fortunate to have a robust food assistance network, a strong nonprofit sector, and dedicated government leaders,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Efforts like the Give and Ride Food Drive are vital in helping families in need. We still have a lot of work to do, and residents can help by making non-perishable donations.”
A 2023 Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger reported that 14 percent of children in Montgomery County (about 34,000) are food insecure. Nearly 20 percent of seniors in the county live below the self-sufficiency standard, according to the 2023 Self-Sufficiency Standard.
“This is our 31st year running this important program,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We want to encourage everyone to donate. We are asking residents to consider making donations even if they don’t ride the bus. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off on all Ride On, extRa, Flex, and Flash buses or at the five participating Montgomery County Public Libraries, the Executive Office Building, and the Council Office Building.”
Let’s take a bite out of hunger this May 26th-June 1st with the Ride On Food Drive. 🥫🚍🍎 Give a non-perishable food item on any Ride On bus and RIDE FREE! Go to https://t.co/Wvj9v8LY9A for more information and drop off locations. #RideOnFoodDrive @RideOnMCT pic.twitter.com/xfljG2iVWI
— Manna Food Center (@MannaFoodCenter) May 16, 2024
Food Donation Sites
Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street, Rockville
240-777-5880
Stella Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville
240-777-5870
County Libraries:
Davis Library (North Bethesda)
6400 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda
240-777-0922
Gaithersburg Library
18330 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg
240-773-9490
Long Branch Library
8800 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring
240-777-0910
Olney Library
3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney
240-773-9545
White Oak Library
11701 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring
240-773-9555
Manna Food Center locations:
Manna Food Center warehouse
9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg
301-424-1130
Manna Food Center administrative office
12301 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring
301-424-1130
High-need items include instant oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta, canned tuna, beans, shelf-stable milk boxes, cooking oils, and spices.
For more information and a list of needed items and drop-off locations, click here. Watch a video on what to donate.
