The organizations listed below are part of the 2024 Guide to Giving. Return to the guide’s homepage by clicking here.
Crossroads Community Food Network
Crossroads Community Food Network (crossroadscommunityfoodnetwork.org) opened its seasonal farmers market in 2007, offering residents of Takoma-Langley Crossroads food that was fresh, local, healthy and affordable. The farmers market was the first in Maryland to accept federal nutrition (SNAP) benefits and first in the country to match them with tokens of equal value. Crossroads’ Healthy Eating Program shares strategies for incorporating local produce into a daily diet. Its Microenterprise Development Program helps entrepreneurs overcome barriers as they develop food businesses, and its shared-use community kitchen provides an affordable means of production.
HEADQUARTERED: Takoma Park
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $100 provides 240 shoppers with four healthy eating food demos.
– $250 provides a small-scale food business access to eight hours of technical assistance.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Ongoing: Assist with nutrition education sessions, food demos, and gardening activities at farmers markets on Wednesdays.
SSL HOURS: no
INTERNSHIPS: no
East County Consolidation HUB at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church
East County Consolidation HUB at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church (kgcdc.org) distributes food, diapers, and essential health items to adults, children, families and seniors. The hub also offers case management, youth and workforce development programs and services, collaborates with community stakeholders to host a wide range of community events and provides other health screenings including diabetes testing, blood pressure screenings, and STI testing and education.
HEADQUARTERED: Silver Spring
SERVES: East Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $40 provides one fresh produce box and an assortment of protein for a family of four.
– $750 provides 50 families with a range of proteins (chicken, fish, beef and turkey).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Assist with a diaper distribution.
– Ongoing: Help at weekly food distributions or packing events.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Manna Food Center
Manna Food Center (mannafood.org) works to end hunger through food distribution, nutrition education and advocacy in Montgomery County. Last year, Manna distributed 4.6 million pounds of food to individuals including children and seniors. Manna values partnerships with community groups, businesses and farms to address immediate needs and create sustainable, healthy communities.
HEADQUARTERED: Gaithersburg and Silver Spring
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $250 can help rescue 5,000 pounds of surplus food from local grocery stores and restaurants and redistribute it to participants.
– $500 creates 100 weekend bags of shelf-stable foods to supplement a family’s meals, distributed weekly at more than 50 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) elementary schools.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Prepare food boxes and sort canned goods; host a food and funds drive.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Montgomery County Food Council
Montgomery County Food Council (mocofoodcouncil.org) convenes more than 2,000 partners in collective impact education and advocacy to cultivate a more resilient, sustainable and equitable local food system. It improves food access for more than 100,000 people at risk for hunger, supports more than 100 MoCo Made farms and food and beverage entrepreneurs, and addresses policy, systems and environmental impacts on the food system.
HEADQUARTERED: Bethesda
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS
– $50 helps enroll a family of four in SNAP benefits, providing up to $937 monthly to buy groceries with dignity.
– $500 supports capacity-building sessions with local providers to ensure residents have access to food across Montgomery County.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Participate in a hunger awareness media campaign.
– Ongoing: Serve as a community food resource navigator.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Nourishing Bethesda
Nourishing Bethesda (nourishingbethesda.org) provides nutritious food and wraparound resources to nearly 5,000 individuals every month. Despite being an area with above-average household incomes, Bethesda has seen double-digit increases in residents of color living below the poverty line, including some 1,100 hungry children, who lack robust support systems. Each week, NB distributes food at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and delivers to other community sites where residents pick up food, clothing and children’s books, as well as participate in conversational English classes. Trained volunteers help identify them for dental and medical assistance, food stamps, cash assistance and other social services. Coordinating 600 volunteers to distribute over 460,000 pounds of food annually, NB addresses food insecurity in Bethesda while making other intersectional issues visible.
HEADQUARTERED: Bethesda
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $100 provides weekend food bag for 17 low-income children.
– $250 provides a dozen eggs for 90 recipients.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Ongoing: Pack meals, help with food distribution.
SSL HOURS: No
INTERNSHIPS: No
Rainbow Community Development Center
Rainbow Community Development Center (rainbowcdc.org) seeks to build better lives for those in need through its safety net services: an emergency food pantry, prevention programs for eviction and utility cutoffs, and a temporary emergency shelter. The food pantry is its largest program, recovering more than 2.6 million pounds of food in 2023.
HEADQUARTERED: Silver Spring
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $50 provides a two-week supply of groceries for a family.
– $300 provides shelter for a homeless family for one week.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Ongoing: Sort, pack and distribute groceries; assist with grant writing, photography, videography or website updates; and plan fundraising events. Assist with the Giving Hope for the Holidays project.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Shepherd’s Table
Shepherd’s Table (shepherdstable.org) has never missed a day of meal service in its 40-year history, serving more than 2 million meals to people experiencing food insecurity, homelessness and poverty. Hot, nutritious meals are created by in-house chefs using fresh ingredients from an urban garden. A team of staff and volunteers distributes hygiene supplies and clothing from its resource center. Vision exams and haircuts are available on-site, while those in need of additional services (medical treatment/legal assistance) receive support to connect to resources. Clients build community in art groups and yoga classes, develop their leadership skills as policy advocates, and participate in culinary training to gain employment in the food service industry.
HEADQUARTERED: Silver Spring
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $100 provides 10 women or 20 men with new undergarments.
– $250 provides one person with 19 meals for one week.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Ongoing: Help with meal service, sorting clothing and food pickup at the resource center and eye clinic.
SSL HOURS: No
INTERNSHIPS: No
The UpCounty Hub
The UpCounty Hub (theupcountyhub.org) is a lifeline for more than 1,300 families every week, providing food and essential items with dignity and without barriers. Its programs help neighbors in upper Montgomery County access the vital resources they need to thrive.
HEADQUARTERED: Germantown
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $125 pays for four Thanksgiving meals for families.
– $1,250 will support 10 families with nonperishable foods and fresh produce for a week.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Ongoing: Pack food Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., deliver food Thursdays at 11 a.m.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
