Find Food Banks, Services In Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, MD — When you look around Montgomery County, it's easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What's less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.

Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end. That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it's a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

For others, food insecurity means periods of hunger.

In Montgomery County, about 83,700 people were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Montgomery County from 8 percent in 2018 to 13.1 percent by the end of 2020.

Feeding America, whose 200-member food banks include Capital Area Food Bank, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Food pantries, community hubs*, and services available in Montgomery County include:

• Community hub: Silver Spring Christian Reformed Church — 1501 Arcola Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20902; (301) 325-0186
• Community hub: St. Camillus — 1600 Saint Camillus Drive. Silver Spring, MD 20903; (301) 328-5105
• Community hub: Nourish Now — 1111 Taft St., Rockville, MD 20850; (301) 330-0222
• Community hub: Adventist Community Services — 501 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 585-6556
• Community hub: MANNA (Hispano hablante disponsible Francophone disponible) — 12301 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904; (301) 424-1130
• Food bank: MANNA Food Center Inc. — 12901 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20906; 301-424-1130
• Meals program: Shepherd's Table — 8106 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 585-6463
• Bag Lunches Program: All Saints Church — 3 Chevy Chase Circle, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; info@allsaintschurch.net or (301) 654-2488
• Meal program: Bethesda Cares — 7601 Clarendon Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814; find nearest location here

*Community Hubs: Higher capacity distribution partners that have committed to remain open alongside the food bank to serve the community with frequent distributions.

RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Food insecurity is often thought of as a "poor people's problem," but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs, and social isolation.

"Our members are reporting that many of the people they're serving have never sought food assistance before," Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America's chief network officer, told Patch. "Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance."