School-Based Food Assistance Program Awards Funding to Help Families at More Than 60 Montgomery County Public Schools

The School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program was developed in early 2024, as one of several programs launched by the Office of Food Systems Resilience ( OFSR) in alignment with the recommendations of the County's Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger. In its first two cycles, the initiative has awarded more than $1.73 million in funding to 12 organizations to meet the needs of 14,000 students.

The program aims to address critical gaps in healthy food access for children and families, providing nutrition assistance in a convenient and familiar school setting, mitigating time and transportation barriers associated with food insecurity.

"No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and this program helps ensure that families in our school communities have access to the nutritious food they need," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "As a former elementary school teacher, I taught children who were not being fed at home and school was the only place feeding them. I created the Office of Food Systems Resilience because food insecurity is persisting, if not worsening, in Montgomery County. By bringing food assistance directly to our schools, we're removing barriers like time and transportation, making it easier for families to get the support they deserve. This program is a critical step in addressing food insecurity in Montgomery County, and I'm grateful for our community partners and the relationships that the Office of Food Systems Resilience has established with them."

"Investing in programs that feed students today is also investing in a stronger future for our community," said Heather Bruskin, director of the Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience. "These grants will help bridge the food access gap that impacts long-term education and health outcomes for so many families by providing quality food and nutrition while fostering a sense of community support and security."

The funded partners and awarded projects through the FY25 grant program:

• AfriThrive Inc: Provides biweekly produce boxes for up to 200 households at Glenallan Elementary School (ES) and Briggs Chaney Middle School (MS).
• Clifton Park Baptist Church: Provides pre-packed food boxes for 150 households at Oakland Terrace ES, Rolling Terrace ES, and Eastern MS.
• Cross Community, Inc.: Provides biweekly pre-packed food bags for approximately 120 households at Harriet Tubman ES and Redland MS.
• Manna Food Center, Inc: Increase weekend food bags to support additional households, generally expand market, and establish a new market to support up to 980 households at 12 schools.
• Nourish Now Inc: Provide pre-packed snack bags and pre-packed food bags to support up to 1,050 students at seven schools.
• Nourishing Bethesda: Provide pre-packed food bags for 190 students at Chevy Chase ES, Rosemary Hills ES, and Bethesda ES and provide bulk food to supplement pantry at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School (HS).
• Rainbow Community Development Center Inc.: Provides pre-packed food bags for up to 330 households at Burtonsville ES, Westover ES, Thomas Edison HS, Paint Branch HS, and Burnt Mills ES.
• Small Things Matter, Inc.: Expanded to provide biweekly packed food bags for approximately 150 additional households at Meadow Hall HS and Weller Road ES.
• So What Else, Inc.: Provides pre-packed bags and bulk foods to support students at seven schools.
• The Shepherd's Table, Inc.: Provides prepared meals for students at Stephen Knolls School.
• The Upcounty Hub, Inc.: Provides prepacked food bags for students at 16 schools.

The funded projects will support flexibility to accommodate food preferences and culturally proficient diets. The awarded projects support partnerships with the faith-based community and the local agricultural sector, illustrating the robust, community-wide impact of this investment to meet the needs of students and families in historically underserved communities.

To learn more about the grant program and other opportunities for engagement with the local food system, visit the OFSR website.