The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Manna Food Center are once again asking Montgomery County residents to help fight hunger in Montgomery County.
The annual Ride On Food Drive will take place from May 21-27. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off on all Ride On, extRa, Flex and Flash buses. Riders who donate food will have their bus fare waived.
MCDOT has conducted the food drive for more than 30 years in partnership with Manna Food Center. Last year, the food drive expanded to include the Montgomery County Public Libraries and the County’s five Regional Services Centers, which are also taking in non-perishable food donations.
“Chronic hunger is a crisis no person should go through. It affects the most vulnerable members of our community-seniors and children-the most,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Prior to the pandemic, one in three students in our County schools qualified for free and reduced meals; this year that number climbed to nearly 40 percent. Nearly 12 percent of our senior population lives in poverty. I have spearheaded a series of policies to address economic inequality, including raising the minimum wage and championing affordable housing. But if we want to ensure no one goes to bed hungry tonight, we must all take action today. I encourage all residents to donate non-perishable food items on County buses, or at any of the drop-off centers, between May 21 and 27.”
Food collected during the drive will be distributed by Manna Food Center through its network of locations across the County. Last year Manna Food Center donated 3.8 million pounds of food to more than 37,000 participants.
“Many of our residents are facing an unprecedented crisis,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “They are still recovering from the loss of income during the pandemic. They are experiencing rising food costs and lingering food shortages. Summer is around the corner, and we know that places an additional burden on families who rely on the school meal program. I encourage anyone who has the means to donate to this food drive do so.”
In addition to County buses, food donations will also be accepted at the following locations:
- Executive Office Building: 101 Monroe St., Rockville. 240-777-5880
- County Council Office Building: 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. 240-777-5870
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center: 4805 Edgemoor Ln., Bethesda. 240-777-8200
- East County Community Recreation Center: 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring. 240-475-6527
- Mid-County Regional Services Center: 2425 Reedie Dr., Wheaton. 240-777-8103
- Silver Spring Regional Services Center: One Veterans Place, Silver Spring. 240-777-5300
- Upcounty Regional Services Center: 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown. 240-777-8000
- Davis Library (North Bethesda): 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. 240-777-0922
- Gaithersburg Library: 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. 240-773-9490
- Long Branch Library: 8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring. 240-777-0910
- Olney Library: 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Rd., Olney. 240-773-9545
- White Oak Library: 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. 240-773-9555
- Manna Food Center warehouse: 9311 Gaither Rd., Gaithersburg. 301-424-1130
- Manna Food Center, administrative office: 12301 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-424-1130
