Office of Food Systems Resilience Quarterly Newsletter: March 2025
Montgomery County Maryland sent this bulletin at 03/13/2025 09:00 AM EDT
Office of Food Systems Resilience | Quarterly Newsletter | March 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, the OFSR team focused on evaluating the impact of the County’s extensive and innovative food system investments in 2024. Through community engagement and robust data collection and analysis, we are building upon our foundational initiatives to inform and strengthen efforts in the second half of FY25.
Group picture of the OFSR team during an offsite retreat
- SNAP Outreach Partner Breakfast
- Annual Food Producers Forum
- Kosher and Halal Food Access Convening
- OFSR Program Highlights
- Upcoming Funding Opportunities
- OFSR in the Community
- Connect With Us: Community Conversations
SNAP Outreach Partner Breakfast
Group picture of the SNAP Outreach breakfast participants
The OFSR hosted a SNAP Outreach grant partner breakfast in February to bring together community-based organizations and County government leaders for a discussion on recent challenges and successful strategies for SNAP outreach and enrollment efforts in Montgomery County. Attendees included several of OFSR’s FY24 SNAP Outreach Grantees — Community Engagement and Consultation Group, Manna Food Center, Maryland Hunger Solutions, and the Montgomery County Food Council — as well as County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Kate Stewart, and County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Marilyn Balcombe, and Laurie-Anne Sayles. Grantees had the opportunity to share a brief summary of their grant-funded programming and on-the-ground observations regarding the impact of the Federal administration transition on connecting eligible residents with nutrition benefits. The OFSR is actively engaged in follow up on ideas and recommendations raised during the discussion with our grantee partners, Council staff, and County agencies, including:
- Exploring strategies to expand SNAP CBOs’ access to information regarding application status and denial details;
- Enhancing language accessibility options within SNAP-related communications at the state and local levels to better support the needs of residents; and
- Sharing information amongst partners related to protecting residents’ rights and information and continuing to circulate food access or assistance offerings to community members.
Annual Food Producers Forum
Picture of participants in the room at the Annual MoCo Food Producers' Forum event
Earlier this month, the OFSR team participated in the 8th Annual MoCo Food Producers' Forum, an event held in collaboration with the Office of Agriculture, Montgomery County Food Council, and Manna Food Center to bring together the dozens of food-producing farms that are integral to our local food system. The bulk of the forum’s agenda was dedicated to farmer discussion around topics such as Farm to Food Bank purchasing, funding to support farm operations and labor costs, and aggregation. State partners from the Maryland Department of Agriculture also presented on the Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program as well as Value-Added Agricultural Processing initiatives. Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Marilyn Balcombe, Andrew Friedson, Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, and Laurie-Anne Sayles joined participants for lunch as farmers shared challenges, successes, and opportunities for collaboration.
Kosher and Halal Food Access Convening
Picture of participants in the room at the Kosher and Halal Convening
In December, the OFSR co-hosted a convening with the USDA Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to connect food assistance provider organizations and local leadership around strategies to increase resident access to Kosher and Halal food options. More than 30 community and government organizations participated in the event, and discussed topics such as sourcing partnerships, grant opportunities, and resident feedback mechanisms that can be leveraged to expand culturally relevant food access in Montgomery County. Each of the OFSR’s grant programs, which currently fund more than 50 food assistance provider organizations serving diverse communities across the County, prioritize funding for food purchases and production that support culturally tailored diets and services that are culturally and linguistically responsive to the needs of residents. Discussions such as these provide a space for sharing innovative best practices and building awareness and capacity amongst practitioners to improve our County-wide food assistance efforts.
OFSR Program Highlights
To support our grant performance evaluation efforts, the OFSR team uses AirTable, a low-code software that helps organize and analyze data. All OFSR grantees are required to submit reports at multiple intervals throughout the grant period to demonstrate their progress in implementing the funded programs. So far in 2025, we have received the final reports for the FY24 Food as Medicine Grant Program and mid-cycle reports for the FY24 Resident and Community Gardening Grant Program and FY25 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program. The infographics below demonstrate the data that has been aggregated through these reports and the impact across all grantees.
Food as Medicine Program
The Food as Medicine program funds innovative initiatives that screen pediatric patients for food insecurity and connects those that screen positive with healthy food and nutrition education opportunities. It addresses critical gaps in nutrition security and diet-related health challenges while increasing access to culturally diverse, medically relevant, nutritious, and locally produced food for children and families in underserved communities. The program was launched in spring 2024 for the first time, funding five partners at ten total healthcare sites over a nine-month period. Data collected at the end of the grant period illustrates the program’s impact: a total of 1,796 children and 566 households screened for food insecurity, 427 households engaged in nutrition and food education programs, and 93,522 pounds of nutritious food distributed. By integrating food access into a healthcare setting, these efforts help to bridge the connection between nutrition and overall well-being. The FY25 Food as Medicine Grant program application closed in February, and awards will be announced by April.
Resident and Community Gardening Grant Program
The Resident and Community Gardening Grant program expands the capacity of eligible nonprofit organizations to provide residents with access to yard, patio, and community gardening supplies, space, and education, supporting broader food security initiatives within Montgomery County.
Data collected from the seven funded partners in the first half of the grant period (June 2024-February 2025) demonstrates the diverse geographic representation of funded projects and indicates that the square footage in food gardening production amongst grantees increased by 78%. More than 1,900 residents were engaged in grant-related gardening activities to date.
School-Based Food Assistance Program
The School-Based Food Assistance program supports projects that expand healthy food access for children and families by co-locating food assistance at 60+ MCPS school sites.
The data collected from the 11 FY25 School-Based Food Assistance program partners at the mid-point of the grant period highlights the broad reach of our program, with a total of 141,242 pounds distributed to 11,847 students, and 8,848 households served between September 2024 and February 2025. 26% of the food distributed was sourced from County and/or DMV-region farms and retailers, demonstrating a significant impact and investment in our local food system while addressing food insecurity among local families.
Upcoming Funding Opportunities
FY25 Nutrition Benefits Outreach Grant Program (Anticipated Launch: March 2025): The OFSR will solicit grant applications for qualified state-designated community-based organizations (CBOs) to conduct outreach, application, and enrollment assistance to Montgomery County families that may be eligible, but not currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as other federal and state-level nutrition benefits programs. .
Please sign up for updates through the County’s Office of Grants Management to receive details on all of the programs above.
OFSR in the Community
Showcasing an OFSR Bright Spot
Group picture of (left to right): Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno, County Executive Marc Elrich, Juan Cruz, and OFSR Director Heather Bruskin
At the Bright Spots Showcase hosted by the County’s Innovation Team, Juan Cruz presented on the data collection and evaluation mechanisms that the OFSR uses to assess the impact of our various grant programs. County Executive Marc Elrich, Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno, and OFSR Director Heather Bruskin connected at the event that highlights innovative County government projects that exemplify MCG’s collective dedication to a culture of transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Afrithrive Refrigerated Truck Unveiling
Afrithrive's newly unveiled refrigerated truck
OFSR Director, Heather Bruskin, pictured above with Afrithrive's new truck
AfriThrive recently unveiled their new refrigerated truck, enabling the organization to safely store and distribute fresh, culturally relevant, healthy foods. OFSR Director, Heather Bruskin, attended the unveiling to celebrate this accomplishment with the community. With this new investment, AfriThrive’s efforts to serve residents, including through the OFSR’s Community Food Assistance and School-Based Food Assistance programs, can reach more clients throughout the County and include more fresh nutrient-dense offerings.
Connecting Farmers to Resources
OFSR Program Manager, Catherine Nardi, presenting at the Future Harvest Conference
The OFSR team participated at the annual Future Harvest Conference in January, connecting with farm partners and organizations throughout the region around sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices. Catherine Nardi, OFSR Program Manager, joined Manna Food Center to present on “Collaborative Funding Agreements: Connecting Farmers to Resources and Resources to the Community.”
City of Gaithersburg’s Quarterly Coalition of Provider Meetings
Group picture of (left to right) Annmarie Hart-Bookbinder, Kimberly Pena-Molina, Joseph Hooks, Milagro Flores, & Diana Tato-Niktash
At the City of Gaithersburg’s quarterly Coalition of Provider Meetings, Annmarie Hart-Bookbinder, Director, Food Security Programs, Montgomery County Food Council, Kimberly Pena-Molina, Early Care and Education Manager, Montgomery County Children's Opportunity Alliance, Joseph Hooks, Founder and Director, 480 Club, Milagro Flores, Director, Mujer Fuerza y Coraje and OFSR Program Manager Diana Tato-Niktash joined more than 100 representatives of nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations to collaborate, share resources, and strengthen services for Gaithersburg residents. These meetings provide a valuable space for networking, free trainings, and sharing program updates—all in support of a more connected and well-served community.
Eleva Tu Futuro
OFSR’s Performance Management and Data Analyst, Juan Cruz, featured on Eleva Tu Futuro
The OFSR’s Performance Management and Data Analyst, Juan Cruz, was recently featured on Eleva Tu Futuro Podcast, which highlights the professional and personal endeavors of Montgomery College alumni. During the conversation, Juan discussed the work and mission of the OFSR. Check it out here.
Connect With Us: Food Resources & Community Conversations
OFSR flyers (top) directing site visitors on where to find food resources information or (below) share their food distribution event
For Community Members:
Visit our recently updated Food Resources webpage to find detailed information on where, when, and how to access food in your area.
For Food Assistance Providers:
Share your food distribution events with the community by submitting details to our calendar linked here!
Connect With Us
Have questions about grants, data collection, or operational challenges? 🤔
Join us for Community Conversations! These 15-minute sessions are your chance to connect with Montgomery County’s Office of Food Systems Resilience staff for support and guidance. 💡
📅 Sign up now via the QR code or using this link! #MontgomeryCounty
OFSR Community Conversations flier directing grantees to sign up for times to connect with the OFSR staff
Questions? Please contact Catherine Nardi at catherine.nardi@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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