Office of Food Systems Resilience Quarterly Newsletter: November 2025

Office of Food Systems Resilience | Quarterly Newsletter | November 2025

 

Over the past few months, the Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) has continued to strengthen partnerships that advance food security efforts across Montgomery County. The OFSR team launched new grant programs, hosted site visits highlighting retail food access and food-as-medicine programs, and created new referral resources for residents. In addition, the team worked closely with partners and County agencies to navigate the impacts of the federal shutdown, leveraging subject matter expertise to keep the County Executive and the County Council briefed on the health of our local food system.

Federal Policy Impacts and County Response Update 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR1) represents a structural shift in food and nutrition policy that, combined with the impacts of massive federal layoffs and the shutdown, has immediately increased County demand for food assistance, outreach, and service coordination. HR1 reduces SNAP household benefit amounts, institutes work requirements for older adults and households with older children, eliminates eligibility for refugees and asylees, and reduces sales revenues for local food retailers and farmers markets. In addition, significant layoffs of federal workers and contractors throughout 2025, the end of Deferred Resignation payments on September 30th, and furloughs of federal government workers in the shutdown starting October 1st, have had major impacts on the local economy and food security of the broader Montgomery County population.

The shutdown impacts continue, with federal nutrition benefit disbursement and furloughed worker paychecks only fully back on track this week. In response, the County government designated the Office of Food Systems Resilience to receive $3.5M in funds from a Special Appropriation officially passed on November 18, 2025 to provide food assistance to Montgomery County residents who have been impacted by the shutdown and federal policy changes.

OFSR already has diverse systems-based strategies underway with existing FY26 funds, which can be rapidly scaled with this additional funding available to effectively and efficiently address this sudden increase in community need. This additional County investments will safeguard Montgomery County residents from the most severe impacts of federal actions, stabilize the County’s food assistance infrastructure, and ensure continuity of access to nutritious food for thousands of children and families.

Learn more about our response strategy on our news page. 

 

                 

• Government Shutdown Updates and Resources for Federal Workers 
• OFSR's FY26 Grant Programs Update
  
• Improving Food Sovereignty through Retail Access Strategies  
• OFSR in the News
• OFSR Staffing Update
• OFSR Program Highlights
  
• Community Partner Updates 
• Connect with Us 

Government Shutdown Updates and Resources for Impacted Workers

                  

During the recent government shutdown, OFSR supported federal workers and their families with up-to-date resources and information. The OFSR website offers guidance on local food assistance options, ways to volunteer or donate to support those affected, and regular updates on programs such as SNAP and other federal benefits. Although the shutdown has ended, our residents will continue to struggle with its aftereffects through the holiday season and beyond, as will the thousands of families who have been experiencing food insecurity for many years. Whether you’re seeking continued assistance, support for the first time, or looking for ways to help others, the OFSR continues to provide resources to help the community navigate times of uncertainty.

👉Visit our homepage 

👉Learn more about opportunities to volunteer and support our community partners 

👉Learn more about food assistance resources 

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OFSR’s FY26 Grant Programs Update  

OFSR's FY26 Operating budget supports renewed and expanded funding for a variety of key grant programs, investing county dollars in critical services provided by local organizations: 

• FY26 School-Based Food Assistance Program: In August 2025, $2.3M was awarded to 13 organizations to support new initiatives and the expansion of existing projects at 96+ Montgomery County Public School Sites.  
• FY26 Food Recovery Network Coordination Grant Program: This grant has been awarded (announcement coming soon!) to one non-profit organization to support the design, implementation, and ongoing coordination of a centralized Montgomery County Food Recovery Network (FRN) that improves operational efficiency at the organizational and network levels, leverages new resources, and boosts collaboration across the network of food recovery operators.   
• FY26 Community Food Assistance Grant Program: All applicants have received a decision letter and full details on awards are coming soon!
• Coming Up:
  
  • FY26 Local Food Aggregation Grant Program: (Anticipated launch January 2026) A multi-year grant opportunity will fund operating and build-out costs to establish a commercial aggregation facility connecting locally produced food with current and future wholesale and institutional market demand for these products. 
  • FY26 Food as Medicine Grant Program: (Anticipated launch late January 2026) $750,000 for innovative programs that connect pediatric patients experiencing diet-related disease and food insecurity to nutrition assistance and education.  Visit our FY25 Food as Medicine Grant Program application page for information on current grantees.
  • FY26 Nutrition Benefits Outreach Grant Program (Renewal only): Funding for current FY25 Nutrition Benefits Outreach program grantees that have maintained reporting compliance and demonstrated successful outcomes in the current performance period is anticipated to be renewed at the same levels for FY2026. Renewals will be issued in late spring.  

Improving Food Sovereignty through Retail Access Strategies 

           

County staff, nonprofit leaders, and community partners joined OFSR and Manna Food Center for site visits to two ethnic grocery stores in Silver Spring. 

In partnership with Manna Food Center, the OFSR hosted a site visit in August to two local food markets, Angkor Supermarket and Adarash Market, that specialize in providing culturally relevant food to County residents. Manna Food Center, in collaboration with Vietnamese American Services and the Montgomery County TESS Center, receives support through OFSR’s Community Food Assistance Grant Program, to connect residents experiencing food insecurity with monthly shopping vouchers at these markets to access culturally relevant food options at local businesses. 

 

                       

The OFSR and Adventist Healthcare co-hosted a site visit to showcase the partnership between Adventist Healthcare, One Acre Farm, and Manna Food Center through the OFSR’s FY25 Food as Medicine Grant Program. Through this collaborative effort, more than 230 County families with children experiencing chronic health conditions have weekly access to fresh produce and proteins that simultaneously combat hunger and support improved health status for the entire household. 

Growing Together Through Food Access 

                 

On August 20th, the OFSR team joined a site visit hosted by the Montgomery County Food Council to the Montgomery College Food Forest, guided by Food Council Member Bodhi Vasilopoulos. Participants gathered at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College to explore how the food forest fosters both food production and community connection opportunities. At the end of the tour, attendees took home fresh Thai basil, a culturally relevant crop that is easy to grow and find locally during a hot Maryland summer.  

Release of the Capital Area Food Bank 2025 Hunger Report   

 In September, the Capital Area Food Bank released the 2025 Hunger Report, an annual study that provides a comprehensive picture of food insecurity and inequity in the Greater Washington region. This year, the report found that 35% of Montgomery County residents are dealing with food insecurity and Montgomery County is the only jurisdiction in the region with steady improvement over the last three years in reaching families with food assistance. OFSR Director Heather Bruskin snapped a photo with Council Vice President Jawando’s Constituent Services & Outreach Lead Christina Neidlinger at the release event.  

Food Security Discussion with U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin and April McClain Delaney 

       

OFSR Director Heather Bruskin joined U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney, and other local food system leaders for a roundtable discussion at Manna Food Center. They discussed how the SNAP disruption deepened existing food insecurity in Montgomery County. 

Farm-to-Table Symposium 

                    

Montgomery County's inaugural Farm-to-Table Symposium on November 10 was hosted by Councilmember At-Large Laurie-Anne Sayles. OFSR Director Heather Bruskin co-moderated the panel, "Building Stronger Partnerships Across Sectors." The event brought together farmers, restaurateurs, policymakers, and community partners to discuss strengthening our local food system. 

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OFSR in the News 

Catch up on County Council Sessions:

OFSR Staffing Updates 

                       

OFSR’s program manager, Catherine Nardi, has been awarded a Fulbright Research Fellowship and will be taking leave from her role with OFSR from late September through late spring/early summer. During this time, she will study innovative food system programs and policies in Europe that can help inform future efforts in Montgomery County through her work with OFSR. We are so excited to congratulate Catherine on this exciting new journey!   

For grant-related questions or concerns during this period, please contact Ciara O’Brien at ciara.o'brien@montgomerycountymd.gov or Heather Bruskin at Heather.Bruskin@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

 

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Community Partner Announcements 

Climate Smart Farms Awards Winners Announced: The Montgomery County Food Council and Montgomery County Green Bank are proud to announce the winners of Montgomery County Climate Smart Farms Awards. These awards offer local farmers funding as a jump start into climate smart practices on their farm. Visit the Food Council's blog to learn more. 

 

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

 

Questions? Please contact Ciara O'Brien at ciara.o'brien@montgomerycountymd.gov.