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November 7, 2024
Election Reflection
I want to start this newsletter by acknowledging the presidential election. In the 36 hours since the race was called, I’ve received messages from neighbors who are concerned about what happens next and how it will affect Montgomery County.
Montgomery County is blessed to have the best and the brightest residents, many of whom work for or with the federal government. Our proximity to the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court means that federal changes become local concerns. We are inextricably tied. In addition, being home to the three most diverse communities in the nation means that we celebrate our diversity and know it is our strength.
As we look ahead to what may come, my top priority is to continue ensuring that every Montgomery County resident feels safe and protected. We live in an incredible community and we will move forward as we always have –– together.
In service,
As we continue to process the election results, it is vital to take care of your mental and emotional health. Maryland and Montgomery County have a number of resources to address immediate mental health crises and to ensure that people have support in dealing with long-term challenges.
Clifton Park Baptist Church Food Bank
I recently visited the food bank at Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring and was blown away by their work to provide fresh produce to members of the community struggling with food insecurity.
Given that many food pantries provide canned and prepared goods, Clifton Park turned the church basement into a garden filled with peppers, spinach, kale and more. The idea came about in 2020, in the midst of western wildfires and a rise in food insecurity because of the pandemic. It’s wonderful to see so much incredible innovation within our community.
KID Museum
Congratulations to the KID Museum on their 10th anniversary of being the region’s pioneering experimental museum and education makerspace.
Since opening, they have served over 400,000 students, family members and teachers, and have made a real effort to engage students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM. KID offers free admission to low-income families and provides discounted field trips to students at Title I schools.
Here’s to many more years of providing innovative STEM education to the next generation!
 Councilmember Glass and Delegate Sarah Wolek at the KID Museum's Makers' Ball
Constituent Corner
A resident with chronic back pain was having trouble carrying her recycling bin to the curb, but her request for a rolling recycling bin was initially denied. She reached out to my office and we connected her with the Recycling and Resource Management Division of the county’s Department of Environmental Protection. They placed an order for a wheeled recycling cart for the heavy bottles, jars and cans, and promptly delivered it to the resident. If you need help with a county agency, please fill out this form and my team will be in touch.
Did You Know?
The Montgomery County Community Action Agency is now recruiting volunteers to help provide assistance during next year’s tax season from January to mid-April. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps low-income residents access critical tax credits — last year, VITA helped over 2,000 households in the county, including Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) holders, net a total of $8.6 million.
Volunteers can become IRS-certified VITA tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, quality reviewers and site coordinators — no prior experience necessary! Prospective volunteers can attend a virtual information session on Wednesday, November 13. You can learn more about the program and how to volunteer online.
Please do not reply to this email. To contact my office, email me at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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