County and state officials, nonprofit leaders and community organizers gathered at Highland Elementary School in Wheaton Wednesday to announce a $20 million strategic plan to end childhood hunger in Montgomery County.
The pandemic demonstrated the need to curb food insecurity.
It also showed that if government joins together with community organizers, religious institutions and nonprofit organizations to tackle the problem, ending childhood hunger can be achieved, declared both County Executive Marc Elrich and County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz.
The plan is multifaceted. It involves obtaining data to learn who is on the border line of food insecurity and who is food insecure. Data will be gathered concerning times of the day and times of year when children are most hungry.
Area pediatricians will be encouraged to prescribe healthy meals to their patients and let them know where they can go in the county to get free groceries and meals.
The plan also includes taking food directly to the homes of the food insecure who are without transportation and not near public transportation, Albornoz explained.
“Childhood hunger reaches into the homes of families across our county with at least 34,000 children experiencing food insecurity,” he said.
According to Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight, one in every nine county children experience hunger. “That’s too many,” she said.
This school year, 117 schools offer free breakfasts. 58 schools participate in the state’s program for free breakfasts and lunches.
The goal of the strategic plan to end childhood hunger is not merely to provide food, but also enable children to succeed in life.
Food insecurity continues to impact many of our residents every day, and it will take the continued collaboration of our County agencies and partner organizations to create solutions that ensure children and their families have sustainable access to food.
Read the whole plan at:… pic.twitter.com/khMkDiqHX6
— Councilmember Gabe Albornoz (@albornoz_gabe) September 6, 2023
Excited to join @albornoz_gabe and @MontCoExec and stakeholders to announce the initiative to end childhood hunger in Montgomery County. Food security for kids and families means increased positive outcomes at school and beyond.
🙌🥗🍎🍞 pic.twitter.com/LUFJ2mF9hq— Councilmember Kate Stewart (she/her) (@cmkatestewart) September 6, 2023
At Highland Elementary School to hear the County's plan to end childhood hunger @mymcmedia @MoCoCouncilMD @MCPS pic.twitter.com/3xO7fll1bX
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) September 6, 2023
