Words from our Community: The Impact of COVID-19

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Catherine Nardi

Since early 2019, the Food Council has been facilitating and supporting a quarterly meeting of a Food Security Community Advisory Board (FSCAB), in which members are invited to share their experiences of food insecurity and their thoughts and perspectives on the County’s Food Security Plan, in addition to learning community engagement and advocacy skills which will be used to develop policies and action items that will guide the implementation of the Plan’s recommendations by the Food Coun...

Food Security Community Advisory Board

Posted on September 26, 2019February 19, 2020 by Catherine Nardi

Since early 2019, the Food Council has been coordinating and facilitating a Food Security Community Advisory Board (FSCAB), in which members are invited to share their experiences of food insecurity and their thoughts and perspectives on the County's Food Security Plan, in addition to learning community engagement and advocacy skills which will be used to develop policies and action items that will guide the implementation of the Plan's recommendations by the Food Council and its partners. Th...

Screen and Intervene Toolkit: Now Available Online!

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Catherine Nardi

The Screen and Intervene Toolkit, created by the Montgomery County Food Council, works to help identify families who may need assistance with food access, as well as other basic needs. It is designed for use by groups such as healthcare providers, social service providers, community-based outreach workers, teachers, case managers, and workforce development staff who do not provide direct food assistance, but may nevertheless come into contact with residents who struggle to make ends meet. The...

Our First Food Security Community Advisory Board Meeting

Posted on March 8, 2019April 2, 2019 by Catherine Nardi

For families and individuals struggling with food insecurity, it's often difficult to seek help and share these challenges with others. In an effort to bring these difficulties to light and more adequately address them, the Food Council has established a Food Security Community Advisory Board (FSCAB). 14 community members and 6 food assistance organization representatives were in attendance at the first FSCAB meeting on February 5th, 2019, to have open conversations on the issue of food insecuri...

Food Assistance Resources During the Government Shutdown

Posted on January 24, 2019April 4, 2019 by Catherine Nardi

Below are some useful links and information about food assistance to reference during the Government Shutdown. Montgomery County Food Assistance Resource Directory The Food Assistance Resource Directory (FARD) lists over 70 food assistance providers in Montgomery County, offering options ranging from choice pantries to hot meals. The online Food Assistance Resource Map can help you determine which food assistance providers are located closest to you. You can download and print copies...

Apply to Join our Community Advisory Board!

Posted on November 20, 2018September 26, 2019 by Catherine Nardi

RAISE YOUR VOICE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY! If you live in Montgomery County and currently receive Food Stamps, WIC or any other food or nutrition assistance benefits, or simply find you cannot afford to feed your family nutritious meals, the Montgomery County Food Council encourages you to apply* for our Food Security Community Advisory Board to hear about your ability to access food in the County. The Food Council has been coordinating and facilitating this initiative in which me...

The Food Council visits Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland

Posted on November 13, 2018April 4, 2019 by Catherine Nardi

There are approximately 5,000 Meals on Wheels chapters throughout the United States, each with the same purpose: to provide home-delivered meals, groceries, and group meals to homebound, elderly, and disabled clients who cannot shop or cook for themselves or have no one to assist them with these tasks on a regular basis. Through these efforts, Meals on Wheels helps to keep the aging and disabled living safely and independently at home. Montgomery County has several Meals on Wheels chapters, i...

Food Security Plan: Year One Update

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Catherine Nardi

On March 12, the Food Council, together with representatives from Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and CountyStat, presented the Year One Update of the Food Security Plan to the County Council Health and Human Services Committee. We shared the first-year implementation successes of the Food Security Plan, and discussed plans to move forward on the Years Two and Three recommendations. Since the Plan, which sets the goal of reducing food insecurity in the County from 7.0...