Does Your Congressperson Know?

Have you ever had to cut back on a meal because you weren’t sure where the money for food was coming from? Have you skipped a meal to save a dollar? Have you fed other members of your family first, and gone hungry, because there just wasn’t enough to go around?

Thousands of Marylanders have to deal with these issues every day. This is what amounts to being “food insecure;” the worry that there won’t be enough food, or enough money for food. “And, even though Maryland is one of the wealthiest states, about one out of eight Marylanders is “food insecure”.

According to Maryland Hunger Solutions, there has been an 157% jump in SNAP participants in Montgomery County since 2007. That adds up to over 66,000 people relying on SNAP to help them make their monthly food budget work. This number surely isn’t everyone who is food insecure – some people either don’t qualify, or don’t think they qualify and so aren’t included in this number.

So what can you do to help? Keep up with SNAP in the news, and make sure to talk to your elected officials about the importance of SNAP, food banks, and supporting the food insecure in our neighborhoods. The Farm Bill is still in flux, and your voice on the issue can help Congress understand the importance of feeding the hungry here at home.

There are many ways to help the food insecure in your neighborhood, including supporting Manna Food Center through food, funds, or volunteer time. For every dollar donated, Manna can turn it into $5 of food. We give out an average of 19,000 pounds of food per day, and always need your help purchasing, sorting, and distributing food. Find out how you can help on our website!

About Jenna Umbriac

Jenna Umbriac is Manna's dietitian. Since 1983, Manna has been feeding Montgomery County’s food insecure residents. In our 30 years of service Manna has served nearly 3 million people, 668,527 households, and distributed 45 million pounds of food. As the designated food bank for Montgomery County we are the main resource people turn to when they find themselves in need of food assistance. Manna delivers emergency food assistance through its three main programs: Food for Families, Smart Sacks, and Agency Food Distribution.

View all posts by Jenna Umbriac