Thank you to our partners and supporters for their continued contributions to our work. Read on for more information about our achievements in September 2021!
Community Engagement and Network Building:
During the month of September, the Food Council hosted nearly 20 meetings attended by about 300 community members, including four working group meetings, two Food Security Community Calls, SNAP work group meetings, and virtual trainings. In total, the Food Council participated in over 80 community engagements this September connecting with over 1,000 local residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government leaders.
Food Security
- During September’s bi-weekly Food Security Community Calls, the Montgomery County Food Council provided food assistance organizations with information and resources relating to federal nutrition benefits and to county benefits available to those facing eviction or in need of rental assistance. Ellen Vollinger from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) presented on recent changes to the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan. Patty Santucci, from Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH) at Housing Stabilization Services at the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services, shared information on funds available and priorities set to support those facing eviction. Lorraine Driscoll of the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs shared how residents could apply for rental assistance. There were 137 participants on the Food Security Community Calls in September.
- Food assistance providers were also given the opportunity to participate in a survey from Manna Food Center’s Farm to Food Bank program about what produce participants are requesting so as to better inform what local farmers should be planting
- Flyers on Rental Relief and Eviction Assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs were provided to the 625 members of our Food Security Community network. Via the Food Council’s weekly newsletter, food assistance providers received information about the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s program to provide free taxi service to COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites for residents 65+ and residents with disabilities.
- We also provided information to the 243 members of our network of Food Assistance Providers about the availability of surplus fresh produce from DC Central Kitchen and Dreaming Out Loud.
- Staff presented food assistance resources available to seniors in Montgomery County on a Virtual Senior Resources Fair hosted by Councilmember Sidney Katz, connecting more than 60 seniors with the Food Council’s Food Assistance Resource Directory and the county’s Food Access Call Center and website.
Food Economy
- The Food Economy Working group (FEWG) meeting took place on Wednesday, 9/15 from 9-10:30AM and was attended by 16 FEWG members. The meeting featured a presentation by Todd Fawley-King, Real Estate Specialist, Montgomery Planning on their recent Retail in Diverse Communities Study, followed by a discussion of our upcoming MoCo Made events. These events include a MoCo Made Happy Hour on 10/26, and upcoming MoCo Made days in November and December at Olney Farmers Market and FreshFarm Downtown Silver Spring Farmers Market.
- We had our first MoCo Made Day of 2021 at Bethesda Central Farm Market on Sunday, September 19th to promote the amazing MoCo Made producers in the community. There were five MoCo Made businesses in attendance; Butterfly Spirits, Sincerely Wilma, Twin Valley Distillers, Metro Microgreens, Shafa Blends. The businesses were given various MoCo Made promo materials including, decals, stickers, and the Food & Beverage guide to display at their tables and identify themselves as MoCo Made businesses. The Food Council also set up a MoCo Made table to promote the MoCo Made program and to encourage customers to purchase products that are made locally and featured in the Montgomery County Food and Beverage Guide. We also conducted outreach to businesses that have not participated in the MoCo Made program in the past, and we made connections with over 10 new potential program participants.
Environmental Impact
- On September 14, with 44 attendees, the EIWG listened to an overview by the County’s Climate Action Plan, which is a strategic roadmap for the County to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035, followed by a question and answer session provided by Adriana Hochberg, County Climate Change Officer, Douglas Weisburger, DEP Senior Planning Specialist, and Mara Parker, OEMHS Grants Assistant. EIWG comments were used in the CAP, on p. 193 addressing Food Security, Resilience, and Carbon Sequestration: Co-Benefits in Action ‘which emphasizes the need to address food insecurity through the promotion of locally-sourced food, with co-benefits called out for carbon sequestration, equity and Land Link, etc.
Food Education
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- On September 14, the Food Education Working Group featured timely presentations on the federal government’s Child Nutrition Reauthorization, which is likely up for renewal this fall. Partners from Maryland Hunger Solution and Montgomery County Public Schools, including the Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Barbara Harrall, presented and engaged in robust discussion about the law’s implications for Montgomery County children and the larger food system.
SNAP Outreach Program
- Staff participated in the DHS Office of Nutrition Assistance Programs monthly meeting for Community Based Organizations on 9/22. The meeting included updates on the No Kid Hungry program, changes in SNAP benefit amounts due to Thrifty Food Plan revisions and emergency allotments ending, and details about grant agreements for the SNAP Outreach program.
- Maryland Hunger Solutions trained MCFC staff on processing residents seeking SNAP assistance. This training will inform the creation of the Food Council’s SNAP “triage” system to process referrals.
- Staff met with Maryland Hunger Solutions, Maryland Food Bank and CASH Campaign of Maryland to discuss challenges and solutions regarding the SNAP online platform.
- The monthly meeting of the Benefits Outreach and Enrollment Workgroup was held on 9/28 and included 11 attendees with representatives from CHEER, University of Maryland Extension, Catholic Charities, Capital Area Food Bank, City of Rockville, Montgomery County Office of Eligibility and Support Services, Maryland Hunger Solutions, and the City of Takoma Park. Topics discussed included changes to SNAP benefit amounts, best practices for assisting residents confused or concerned by the changes, and challenges presented by a lack of documentation from SNAP applicants. The next meeting will discuss coordination of efforts with the County’s Service Consolidation Hubs, the intersection of housing and food insecurity, and legislative opportunities around benefits access.
- Staff attended the DHS mandatory training for SNAP outreach organizations on 9/30. Training sessions were conducted on SNAP policies, grant requirements, and MDTHINK procedures.
Food Security Community Advisory Board (FSCAB) activities:
- In September, FSCAB members continued to fulfill their personal Advocacy Plans through outreach and engagement. Specifically, FSCAB members continued to advocate to reform federal and local policies to allow SNAP recipients to purchase prepared hot meals with their EBT cards. FSCAB members also reached out to their community and neighborhoods regarding access to federal benefit programs (SNAP and WIC) and food assistance resources such as food banks and delivery services.
- FSCAB members were also active in advocating for their communities when the Maryland Department of Human Services sent notices regarding SNAP Emergency Allotments ending in September. FSCAB members wrote to elected officials and organizations about the need to continue Emergency Allotments. FSCAB members also informed their neighbors and communities about preparing for the end of the allotments. The Maryland Department of Human Services decided to continue the Emergency Allotments for October, thanks to the advocacy work of the community such as the FSCAB members.
- A representative from the FSCAB, Vanessa Pierre, gave remarks at the Food Council’s 3rd Annual State Legislator Breakfast. An overview of the FSCAB’s Policy Recommendations was also featured for state legislators at the event.
Racial Equity Committee:
- In September, Co-chairs met to discuss the strategies of committee operations internally and externally, and to debrief the August meeting. Additionally, during the committee meeting, members also discussed committee operation strategies, facilitation guidelines, and began planning for future events. Members contributed to the committee’s resource document, which provides guidance on facilitation strategies, racial equity toolkits, upcoming local trainings, and additional related guidance.
Policy and Advocacy Initiatives:
- The Food Council’s Policy Committee hosted our 3rd Annual State Legislator Breakfast on September 28th, with eight state legislators representing Montgomery County in attendance, including Delegate Sara Love, Delegate Pam Queen, Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Senator Nancy King, Delegate Al Carr, and Tammy Shay (on behalf of Senator Ben Kramer). The event focused on opportunities for food system legislation at the state level, and featured an overview of the Food Security Community Advisory Board’s policy recommendations, the Montgomery County Food Council’s 2021 policy priorities, and the Food Council’s 2020 Annual Report. State representatives were also given an opportunity to share their food system work and priorities in Annapolis, and offered an opportunity for Food Council input and support.
- The Food Council signed on to a letter from Maryland Hunger Solutions to the Maryland Department of Human Services and the Maryland Department of Health to urge continuation of emergency allotment SNAP benefits for Maryland residents, which were due to end 9/30/21. The ending of emergency allotments would have significantly decreased the monthly SNAP benefit amounts of most Maryland SNAP recipients. Emergency allotments will now continue through October 2021, and then on a month-by-month basis or until the Federal public health emergency ends.
- The Food Council signed onto the Build Back Better Act Nutrition Investments letter, along with Food Research & Action Center, Share Our Strength, Feeding America, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Farm to School Network, and the Children’s Defense Fund. The letter urges Congressional leadership, all Members of Congress, and the Biden administration to protect the overall Build Back Better Act, especially the anti-hunger and anti-poverty provisions.
- The Food Council signed onto the Montgomery County Better Buses Coalition letter on fare collection. As a result of this letter, fare collection on Ride On buses continues to behalted until January.
Build organizational capacity:
- Virtual Trainings: Food Council staff met internally and with the following community partners to plan five upcoming training sessions in October and November: Nonprofit Montgomery, the Food Security Task Force, Manna Food Center’s Community Food Rescue Program, local elected officials, the Institute for Public Health Innovation, Rainbow Community Development Center, Shepherd’s Table, Compost Crew, and Homestead Hustle & Healing. These trainings will focus on food security resources, organizational resiliency, community advocacy, and accessing fresh produce.
Connecting organizations to each other:
- Recovery Framework Survey and Listening Sessions: As Montgomery County transitions from emergency response to recovery mode, the Food Council sought feedback from food assistance providers on what a more resilient and efficient local food system could look like. Feedback was collected through a recovery framework survey, via Survey Monkey. During September, Food Council staff and trained Food Council members conducted a total of three listening sessions with a total of 10 representatives from food assistance providers. Listening session questions were also used to shape discussion during breakout sessions at the 9/27 Community Call. All collected feedback from food assistance providers will be synthesized into recommendations for the Food Security Task Force in October.
Thanks to all of our partners for continuing to support our efforts! Check back next month for another update. Please contact info@mocofoodcouncil.org with any questions.