As we announced in December, our year-end goal was to raise $20,000. MUM’s active Board of Directors agreed to match year-end donations up to $10,000. And thanks to many generous contributions, we made that goal by the end of the calendar year! Thank you for your generosity, which allows us to continue to support our neighbors in need!

Going into the new year with these funds is critical to fulfilling MUM’s mission. Over the last several months, MUM (along with other assistance providers) has seen an increase in applications for eviction prevention and utility cutoff prevention assistance. The expectation is that this will continue, since applications for Covid rent relief funds have closed and rents continue to go up. The number of tenants being taken to court and being threatened with evictions and utility shut-offs is higher now than at any point in the past three years. Many of our neighbors are struggling to find or stay in affordable housing in one of the wealthiest counties in the country. Your support is providing a safety net to some of those who are experiencing these hardships and helping us to advocate for more affordable housing and sustainable solutions to these chronic issues.

MUM’s office food pantry and mobile food pantry are also seeing increased numbers of people seeking food. In fact, at our Aspen Hill Christian Church and Millian United Methodist Church locations (on the first and second Sundays of each month), we saw significant increases in the number of households coming for food in January. Our fourth Sunday location, formerly at Peppertree Farms Apartments, has moved nearby to an indoor location at Renewed Adventist Church. Although our first Sunday there saw fewer households than normal, we hope that the move to the indoor space will be a welcome one – to our clients and volunteers alike!

As our programming continues to grow, MUM is looking to hire a part-time Food Distribution and Storage Manager to manage the food donations and deliveries for our food pantries, prepare food and materials for the mobile food pantries, and help with loading and unloading for the mobile food pantries on Sundays. If you know of anyone who would be a good fit for this job (or even better, to volunteer!), please share this: https://mumhelp.org/about-mum/mum-staff/#hiring

MUM could not fulfill its mission without many volunteers! If you would like to volunteer in the office, in preparing food for the mobile food pantries, with community and fundraising events, or in other ways, please let us know!

We continue to be grateful to the Maryland and Montgomery County departments that provide grants to MUM as well as the many non-profit organizations, businesses, faith communities, and individuals who provide funds, in-kind donations of food and other items, and volunteer time! MUM’s Executive Director is reaching out to our long-time supporters to show our gratitude and strengthen our partnerships in the new year. If you would like a call or visit, please let our Executive Director know by calling the office or emailing office@mumhelp.org

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

How to donate funds | How to donate food | How to volunteer