Montgomery County Executive Elrich and Councilmembers to Join Instacart Health for Launch of New Program to End Childhood Hunger on Thursday, Aug. 29, in Burtonsville 

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando, and Kristin Mink will join representatives of Instacart Health and community members at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, in Burtonsville  to launch “MC Groceries,” a new initiative to increase food security and address childhood hunger across the County. This will be the largest program of its kind in the United States. 

The event will be held at the Sprouts Farmers Market, which is located at 15793 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. 

Participants in the program can receive up to $400 per month in Fresh Funds, depending on the number of children in the household. The funds can be used to shop online from a variety of local grocers. Approximately 600 Montgomery County families are in the first group of participants, supporting nearly 1,500 children in total. 

Also expected to be part of the ceremonies are Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs for Instacart Health, Casey Aden-Wansbury; Heather Bruskin, director of the County’s Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR); and Paola Lopez, with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Community Action Agency navigation team.

"MC Groceries" is a first-of-its-kind program, developed in alignment with the County’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger. Through a partnership between the OFSR, DHHS and Instacart Health, the program will leverage the Instacart platform to provide monthly grocery stipends called Instacart Health Fresh Funds, to lower income families.  

WHAT: Launch of New “MC Groceries” Program to End Childhood Hunger.  

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 29., 11 a.m.-noon. 

WHERE: Sprouts Farmers Market, 15793 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. 

WHO:  

• Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich 
• Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, chair, Council’s Health and Human Services Committee
• Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, chair, Council’s Education and Culture Committee 
• Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink  
• Casey Aden-Wansbury, vice president of Policy and Government Affairs for Instacart Health
• Heather Bruskin, director, Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience 
• Paola Lopez, Montgomery County DHHS Community Action Agency, navigation team 
• Representative from the Maryland Department of Human Services
• Victor Vasquez, Sprouts store manager

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Media Contact: Heather Bruskin, heather.bruskin@montgomerycountymd.gov 301-550-1705 or  Nordea.lewis@montgomerycountymd.gov