Annual ‘Give and Ride Food Drive’ to Run from May 26-June 1

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Manna Food Center are hosting the 31st Annual "Give and Ride Food Drive” from Sunday, May 26, to Saturday, June 1. MCDOT is asking for donations of non-perishable food items on any MCDOT Ride On bus or at designated drop off sites. County bus riders who make a donation will have their bus fare waived.

“Montgomery County is fortunate to have a robust food assistance network, a strong nonprofit sector, government leaders and agencies that are dedicated to ending childhood hunger and efforts like the Give and Ride Food Drive are a part of helping families in need,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We still have a lot of work to do, and residents can help by making non-perishable donations. This annual food drive has an enormous impact on our residents.”

A 2023 Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger reported that at least 14 percent of children in Montgomery County (approximately 34,000) are food insecure. Nearly 20 percent of seniors in the County live below the self-sufficiency standard, according to the 2023 Self-Sufficiency Standard.

“This is our 31st year running this important program,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We want to encourage everyone to donate. We are asking residents to consider making donations even if they don’t ride the bus. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off on all Ride On, extRa, Flex and Flash buses or at the five participating Montgomery County Public Libraries, the Executive Office Building and the Council Office Building.”

Participating drop off locations, aside from all County buses, include:

• Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda.
• Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg.
• Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring.
• Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville.
• Olney Library, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney.
• Stella Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville.
• White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring.

Manna Food Center is a leader in the fight against hunger and food waste in Montgomery County. Through innovative partnerships and solutions, Manna collects food and delivers it to families in need through pop-up pantries, school-based programs, education and community food rescue and a Farm to Food Bank program.

“This past year we have shared food resources with 50,499 neighbors experiencing hunger, but there is still a great need, especially with inflation and grocery prices soaring,” said Mardia Dennis, the director of development and communications for Manna Food.

Manna Food’s website lists the following items as high need: instant oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta, canned tuna, beans, shelf-stable milk boxes, cooking oils and spices.

Learn more and view a list of much needed items as well as all drop-off locations here. Watch a video on what to donate.