Silver Spring Nonprofits Among Awardees of Childhood Hunger Grant Programs

Sixteen organizations in Montgomery County, including several Silver Spring nonprofits, have received grants to bolster the implementation of the county’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger (PDF).

According to a press release, the investments aim to create or expand innovative strategies that tackle food insecurity through partnerships with K-12 schools, pediatric healthcare providers, and direct outreach to Montgomery County residents.

“Seeing children in need of healthy food has always motivated me to ensure that students are being properly fed and nurtured,” County Executive Marc Elrich said. “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.”

Really enjoyed speaking at the Childhood Hunger Collaborative Kickoff yesterday! A big thank you to everyone who attended & a special shoutout to Delegate Shetty for her insights and work in Annapolis. Thanks @MoCoFoodCouncil for bringing us together.

📸 https://t.co/4SX1XdMVz5 pic.twitter.com/M4fRquyUq1

— County Exec Marc Elrich (@MontCoExec) April 18, 2024

In December 2023, the County Council unanimously passed Special Appropriation 24-37, allocating over $11 million to support the grant programs and other strategies outlined in the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger.

The FY24 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program awardees include Community Farm Share, Manna Food Center, Nourishing Bethesda, Rainbow Community Development Center, Shepherd’s Table, Small Things Matter, So What Else, and The Upcounty Hub. These organizations will provide fresh produce, establish food pantries, distribute pre-packed snacks and meals, and facilitate grocery distributions at various MCPS sites.

The FY24 Food as Medicine Grant Program awardees are partnerships between healthcare providers and local organizations, such as Adventist Healthcare with One Acre Farm and CHEER, Holy Cross Health with Community FarmShare, Casa Ruben with Centro de Apoyo Familiar, and CHEER with MCPS School-Based Health and Wellness Centers.

The FY24 SNAP Outreach Grant Program recipients include the Montgomery County Food Council, Manna Food Center, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Community Engagement and Consultation Group, and the Food Research and Action Center DBA Maryland Hunger Solutions.

Last Wednesday, we along with the Office of Food Systems Resilience and Montgomery County kicked off our newest convening space, the End Childhood Hunger Collaborative. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the interview with State Delegate, Emily K. Shetty. https://t.co/aL751Pqicq pic.twitter.com/5FGjhatEXG

— MoCoFoodCouncil (@MoCoFoodCouncil) April 25, 2024

The Office of Food Systems Resilience has also launched the FY24 Resident and Community Gardening Grant Program to further support food security initiatives in Montgomery County.

“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.

For more information about these programs, contact Office of Food Systems Resilience program manager Catherine Nardi at [email protected].