From the President of MUM’s Board of Directors

MUM hopes that everyone enjoyed a Happy National Volunteer Month! I want to thank the many volunteers who contribute to MUM’s work assisting our neighbors. In 2024, over 300 volunteers contributed over 2,500 hours of time helping MUM accomplish its mission!  We truly could not operate without our wonderful volunteers and are so appreciative of the time and talents they give to MUM!

Since its creation in 1996, MUM has been dedicated to providing essential resources and support to vulnerable individuals and families across the Silver Spring, Kensington, Wheaton, Aspen Hill, and Rockville areas. More recently, we expanded our service area to include downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Through our full choice food pantry and food as medicine programs, emergency financial assistance, and referrals to vital social services, we help our neighbors meet basic needs and work toward stability. By offering these critical services, MUM strives to prevent homelessness, keep our neighbors’ utilities on, combat food insecurity, and support individuals and families to address the underlying causes of their struggles.

As we expand our efforts to address the growing needs in our community, we are seeking committed and diverse volunteers to join MUM’s Board of Directors. As a board member, you will:

• Provide strategic direction and oversight of MUM’s programs and partnerships.
• Advocate for and promote MUM’s mission within the community.
• Assist with fundraising efforts to fund our programs and ensure our long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with a passionate team committed to making a meaningful impact.

We are particularly interested in adding individuals with experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, finance, communications, IT, community outreach, and legal expertise, and lived experience struggling to make ends meet to our board. Above all, we seek those who are passionate about supporting our vulnerable neighbors and eager to contribute their time and talents. We strongly believe that a diverse board enhances our ability to serve our community effectively and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply. 

Board members typically commit up to 5 hours per month, including attendance at board meetings, volunteering at MUM-sponsored or community hosted events on behalf of the organization, and participation in committee work. To learn more about this opportunity or to express your interest, please contact MUM’s Board President, Derrick Owens at midcountyunitedministries@gmail.com.

If you live in or care deeply about Aspen Hill, Kensington, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Takoma Park, Rockville, or areas and want to make a difference, we would love to hear from you. Whether it’s serving as a board member or supporting MUM in other possible ways, including the upcoming Stamp Out Hunger event on May 10th, your time and effort will make a difference! Together, we can continue building stronger and more supportive communities that welcome all.

Derrick Owens
MUM Board President

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Celebrating MUM Volunteers During National Volunteer Month

We asked MUM volunteers to tell us what motivates them to volunteer with MUM. Thanks so much to our volunteers for all that you do, and for sharing these thoughts, which we hope will encourage others to join us, as well!

Why do I volunteer at MUM?

• These times are stressful for many people. I find volunteering at MUM to be a great reminder of how we can help each other through tough times.
• When my friend and neighbor became involved with MUM, and asked if I had any time I could give to help, I accepted. I was aware of the need for family food assistance in this community through Hughes Methodist church. My husband and I had been involved with working with packing and delivering food to families in the community for some time. I feel I am helping to be part of a needed community service to care for my neighbors in these difficult times.
• I volunteer at MUM because it is a local organization serving the local community. 
• I volunteer at MUM because it is a tangible way I can help those who find themselves in need. It is a way to give back to the community.

What is the most rewarding part about volunteering at MUM?

• The food pantry is supported by caring team members and I find it rewarding to be a part of the team. 
• The most rewarding part of this commitment to MUM on a personal level, is the opportunity to interact with the people who are our clients. I enjoy helping. Making someone feel comfortable, cheering up someone who is down, having the client feel better when they leave than when they came.
• The most rewarding part of MUM is doing good work with really good people. The MUM staff and volunteers are just great.
• The most rewarding part of volunteering at MUM is knowing that people are going to get what they need because of the efforts of this organization.

Thank you to those who shared responses, and to everyone who pitches in with MUM to get things done to support our neighbors! If you’re reading this but haven’t yet “found your place” at MUM, know that it’s easy to get started helping us to make a difference in the community!

We particularly need volunteers (especially bilingual!) who can regularly commit to help stock and help clients shop in our office food pantry, with picking up donated and recovered food, and delivering food to some of our neighbors who cannot come to the food pantry due to illness, disability, or other challenges. MUM also needs volunteers to support our operations, such as helping with IT issues, data entry, office administration, communications, and fundraising. If you or someone you know may be interested in volunteering with MUM, please fill out the MUM New Volunteer Profile, call the office at (301-929-8675), or email office@mumhelp.org 

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Please Volunteer to “Stamp Out Hunger” 

The US Postal Service’s National Association of Letter Carriers will hold the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive event on May 10th this year. MUM needs volunteers to transport, sort, and organize non-perishable food being collected through the campaign on May 10th and 11th. Drivers will collect the food from 7 local post offices and bring the food to the Mid-County Consolidation Hub at Hughes United Methodist Church (10700 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902), where it will be sorted and stored or transported to MUM’s office food pantry. Volunteers under the age of 14 must have a parent of guardian present, and SSL forms will be provided for MCPS students. 

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MUM’s Food As Medicine Program Receives County Funding 

We are thrilled to announce that MUM is leading one of six partnerships selected by Montgomery County to receive a grant to expand our Food As Medicine program. The Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) have awarded a total of $750,000 in funding to these partnerships, which increase access to medically relevant, nutritious and locally produced food for Montgomery County families with children birth-18 who are at high risk of or are experiencing diet-related disease and food insecurity. Read the County press release: Montgomery County Gives $750,000 to Help Six Partnerships That Use Food to Improve Health.

“Food and health are deeply connected, and too many families don’t have access to the kinds of food that support long-term health,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “This grant program helps make sure that families who are struggling are not left behind. It builds stronger connections between doctors, schools, food providers and farms—and it does it in a way that respects cultural needs and community voices. We’re going to keep investing in partnerships like this because they work, and because they move us closer to a healthier County.”

This new Food as Medicine partnership is with the School-Based Health and Wellness Center at Wheaton High School -which will identify children with diet-related disease and food insecurity- Community FarmShare -which will provide locally-grown produce and recipes- and Holy Cross Health which will provide nutrition education to 25 participating households.