From the Director’s Corner

In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation week, I want to thank the many volunteers who give their time and talents to MUM! We truly could not have supported the nearly 750 households we provided food to in March without so many wonderful volunteers. MUM’s dedicated volunteers show up in all kinds of weather and do whatever we ask of them. Volunteers help prepare food to take to the sites, load and unload all of the supplies and food, work with our clients to select food to feed their families, and so much more. Other volunteers help with data entry, acknowledging and reporting to our donors, picking up donated food, with food drives and in many other ways. Thank you!

I am so appreciative of the wonderful volunteers who have worked with MUM to continue to meet the increasing demand for food amid rising inflation and the end of covid relief programs, particularly the increased SNAP benefits that ended in February. MUM cannot meet the growing needs in our community without more volunteers. We particularly need more consistent volunteers including team leaders for Sundays, as well as more Spanish speakers, to continue to work at our current scale. To volunteer in the office, in preparing food during the week or at the mobile food pantries on Sundays, with community and fundraising events, or in other ways, please fill out the MUM Volunteer Form, call (301-929-8675), or email office@mumhelp.org. As you can read below, you can also help out with Stamp Out Hunger by signing up here: MUM Stamp Out Hunger Volunteer Sign-up 2023

As we work on MUM’s long-term strategy coming out of the covid pandemic, I welcome your feedback and input on our future direction. Let me know if you have time to chat, meet over coffee or talk about your suggestions for how we can better support those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity, facing financial emergencies, and struggling in other ways. We are keen to work more in partnership with the many faith communities, schools, community based organizations and others working in the communities MUM serves.

Thank you for your continued support of and partnership with MUM!
Dayna Brown

Stamp Out Hunger is on May 13!

MUM will once again benefit from the local Stamp Out Hunger food drive on May 13! For 31 years, the US Postal Service National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has conducted an annual nationwide food drive, collecting nonperishable food donations along postal routes. After being canceled in 2020 and going online in 2021 due to COVID, Stamp Out Hunger returned last year, and you helped to make it a success for MUM by helping us collect nearly 11,000 pounds of food!

We need your help again this year! On Saturday, volunteer drivers will collect the food from 7 post offices and bring it to the Kensington Town Hall (3710 Mitchell St, Kensington, MD 20895). Volunteers will sort the food on Saturday and Sunday, and transport it to MUM storage units on Sunday.

Here’s what to do –

(1) NOW – Sign up here to help MUM to collect, sort, and transport donations between 5pm and 11 pm on the 13th or 12pm and 6pm on the 14th!

(2) ON MAY 13 – leave nonperishable food donations for pick up on your doorstep by your letter carrier. See what’s needed here!

(3) ON MAY 13 and 14 – help MUM to collect, sort, and transport donations at the time you signed up for through MUM Stamp Out Hunger Volunteer Sign-up 2023!

Stamp Out Hunger is a big effort and has provided much-needed food for MUM to provide to our neighbors in the past. The need for food has continued to grow as prices increase and Covid-19 relief programs have ended. Please help us to Stamp Out Hunger here in Montgomery County!

Local Resident’s Birthday Celebration Becomes a Food Drive to Benefit MUM

As Kristen Weinberg approached her 50th birthday recently, she decided to turn her milestone year into a charitable giving campaign. In lieu of giving her gifts to mark the occasion, she invited family and friends to join her in a “50 for 50” food drive where they would provide 50 food items for the food insecure in our community. A Wheaton-area native, Kristen had learned about MUM’s work in the region and knew she wanted MUM to receive these items to distribute to our neighbors in need. The outpouring of support for her “50 for 50” drive was incredible, and Kristen and her husband Gary were able to deliver nearly 900 pounds of food to MUM. We are so grateful for this generous donation and the big difference it will make in the lives of community members.

One Montgomery Green Annual Paper Shredding & E-Recycling Event benefits MUM! On April 15, 2023, local residents donated 193 pounds of food to support MUM during this One Montgomery Green event! Thank you!

Women’s Club of Kensington supports MUM! On April 23, 2023, during Kensington’s The Day of the Book event, the Women’s Club of Kensington sponsored a bake sale that netted $225 for MUM! Thank you!

Got a Garden? Plant a Row for MUM!

Many years ago, a garden columnist started the “Plant A Row” program by inviting readers to plant an extra row of vegetables to help those in need. Since that time, millions of pounds of produce have been donated to food banks, soup kitchens and other charities across the U.S.

MUM invites you to join us in a “Plant A Row” effort to benefit those experiencing food insecurity right in our own community. If you have a garden plot, participate in a community garden, or just have a few pots on your balcony, please consider planting a little extra to donate to MUM. Many of our clients cannot afford enough fresh fruits and vegetables due to rising costs. MUM aims to provide as much fresh produce as possible at our in-office and mobile food pantries because we know that fresh, nutritious foods are critical for the health and wellness of our neighbors.

As our funding for produce is on the decline, we could really use your help. MUM will gladly accept your bumper crop of zucchini, tomatoes, greens, peppers, potatoes and any other produce you can provide for those in need. As always, all of your gifts to MUM – including produce – are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Give us a call when you’re ready to drop off your donation at the office (where we have refrigeration) or at our mobile food pantries. In the meantime, we wish you all the best this planting season!

Plan to Attend Upcoming Fundraisers!

Support MUM at Taste of Wheaton 2023! Mark your calendars for the Taste of Wheaton on Sunday, June 4 from 11am to 5pm in the Marian Fryer Town Plaza. Come out and support MUM and other local businesses and non-profits.

Support MUM at Give a Hoot Comedy Club on June 30 and July 1!

Comedian Joey Callahan will be featured at two shows benefiting MUM at Give a Hoot Comedy Club (16143 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877)! Doors open one hour before the 8 pm showtime each evening, parking is free, and the full La Mexicana food and drink menu is available in the club. Tickets are $20 in advance DC Comedy Clubs Montgomery County MD (giveahootcomedy.com) and $25 at the door. Join us for this evening of fun, while helping MUM!

If you have a creative idea for a food drive or fundraiser for MUM, please let us know. We would welcome the opportunity to partner with you.

Thanks for your support of MUM’s work to meet the ongoing needs of our neighbors. We make it easy to donate money, food, and time!

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