Montgomery County, MD
09/26/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2025 09:25
Montgomery County Invests $2.3 million in School-Based Food Assistance Strategies to Support Children and Families
For Immediate Release: Friday, September 26, 2025
The recipients funded through this program are:
"As a former teacher, I knew students who came to school hungry and relied on the meals they received there," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "That experience has always stayed with me, and it is why this work is so important. With this program now reaching more than 9,000 households across 96 schools, we are taking real steps to reduce hunger and make sure children are ready to learn. By bringing food assistance directly into schools, we remove barriers for families and give students the support they deserve. I am pleased that we are expanding this program to reach more schools and families."
11 of the 13 awarded organizations were funded through previous rounds of the SBFA Grant Program, and all 13 grantees demonstrate successful performance histories serving school communities in Montgomery County. Food assistance offerings include pre-packed boxes of locally sourced, culturally relevant produce items, family markets to promote flexibility of choice and variety, and prepared meals for students with medically tailored diets.
"The School-Based Food Assistance Program is a necessary investment to address and help alleviate food insecurity in Montgomery County, now more than ever as programs like SNAP are under threat," said County Council President Kate Stewart. "Too many households in our community struggle to afford and purchase groceries for their families and face other barriers, like access to transportation or steady work schedules. This investment ensures access to nutritious food to over 90 schools and over 9,000 families, creates convenient food access in culturally competent ways and meets dietary needs, and supports students in having an environment where they can thrive."
The SBFA Grant Program was initially established with funding allocated to the OFSR in Feb. 2024 through Special Appropriation 24-37, in alignment with the recommendations outlined in the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger. In the FY25 grant cycle (Sept. 2024- June 2025), 11 grantees distributed more than 268,000 pounds of food to nearly 50,000 MCPS students.
"This program has made a huge impact on the food deficit of hundreds of children and families in this community, many of which have difficulty accessing an abundance of fresh produce for their families due to rising food costs and a difficult job market," said Krystal Spears, community school liaison at Brown Station Elementary School in Gaithersburg, which has been working with grantee So What Else since last school year through the SBFA program.
Last spring, the OFSR team partnered with the MCPS Departments of Student Services and Student and Family Support and Engagement to survey all MCPS sites, gathering feedback on food assistance needs for the 2025-26 school year. Through the survey, 105 schools requested food support from the grant program. With the expanded funding allocated to the program in the County's FY26 operating budget, more schools-and more County families-will benefit from easily accessible food assistance services that close hunger gaps and ensure that children are ready to succeed in the classroom.
"In households that are struggling with food insecurity, parents and caregivers are typically working full-time and often have multiple jobs. The household may have limited access to a vehicle or rely on public transportation. There are factors beyond affordability that make food access much more challenging for families with children," said Heather Bruskin, director of the OFSR. "With this investment, food assistance is conveniently offered to the family at their child's school, promoting a sense of safety and flexibility that is critical for these households."
To learn more about the grant program and other opportunities for engagement with the local food system, visit the OFSR website.
Media Contact: [email protected]
Media Contact: Nordea Lewis
Categories: Executive Office, Grants
Montgomery County, MD published this content on September 26, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 26, 2025 at 15:25 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]