Blog

A new option for affordable groceries has arrived in Maryland! The food bank is thrilled to announce the expansion of its Curbside Groceries initiative into Prince George’s County. Curbside Groceries, which currently operates in DC’s Ward 8, is a mobile grocery truck designed to create equitable access to nutritious food at affordable prices by serving residents in areas with few nutritious grocery options.

September Hunger is Action Month, a time when people across the country join together to raise awareness about hunger in our communities, and take action to help solve it. With so many of our neighbors continuing to experience high levels of need due to the ongoing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s never been a better – or more important – time to take part.

Food bank partner Jubilee Housing has continued to serve children throughout the pandemic, providing hot meals and snacks to keep kids healthy and energized year round. Their programs engage children in experiential learning opportunities in science, engineering, art, and math, as well as civic engagement. Just as importantly, the program provides a deep sense of community that extends beyond its building walls.

Client Leadership Council member Melody Lawson was born and raised in Washington, DC and has dedicated her life here to giving back to the community. She’s been passionate about food since she was a little girl, and every day she wakes up and lives by the motto her grandmother taught her: never let anybody go hungry.

For most kids and teens, summer is a time for fun. But for kids in our region who don't have food at home, summer can mean long and hot days without enough to eat. Each year through our summer meals program, we provide the nutritious meals kids need to continue growing and learning - even when school isn't in session.

On the first Saturday of each month on L Street NW between New Jersey Avenue and First Street you’ll find the food bank’s DC Community Marketplace, where we provide fresh, seasonal produce and other grocery items at no cost to all residents in need of food assistance. Read an inside look at a morning at the marketplace.

The food first bank’s first Hunger Report, released in July of 2020, sounded the alarm on a growing hunger crisis in our region as COVID-19 sent shockwaves through our economy and some areas saw food insecurity rates increase by 50% or more. Almost one year later, the food bank has issued a second report, this time diving more deeply into the faces behind those staggering numbers.

As a 35-year hospitality professional who grew up in food and beverage, Elaine Richard already had great respect for the work of food bank. When she was asked to join the board of directors, she jumped at the opportunity. At the time, she didn’t realize that her purpose in supporting the food bank would change in a matter of weeks as the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges.

Shonnie Jones’s passion is helping people. She believes that empowering families through food access and security is central to improving the lives of families in her community and furthering equity in the D.C. area. As a member of our Client Leadership Council, Shonnie hopes to become a more effective advocate for her family and community.

For Audrey Walker, the Director of Youth Services at Jubilee Housing, summer isn’t just for vacation – it’s for community. Her summer is packed full of cohorts of kids and their families. Jubilee’s youth programs provide kids with experiential learning like field trips, practice in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), and opportunities for community service and civic engagement. But even more importantly, it provides hot meals and snacks to keep kids healthy and energized throughout the summer and beyond.