Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Director’s Corner
As neighbors in our community continue to face increasing needs, with uncertainties around SNAP benefits, the government shutdown, and other challenges, I am so grateful to so many neighbors who have donated money, food, and time to help MUM to meet those needs. Thanks to these efforts, MUM is now able to make food pantry appointments available from 9:30 to noon (instead of 10am) and we have added another session from 10am-12pm on the first two Fridays in November and December so that we can serve more people. If you can help by volunteering, please contact the MUM office.
Amidst this uncertainty, we are very grateful for funding that we are receiving to help meet the need. MUM received a grant of $134,667 from the Office of Food Systems Resilience – the largest grant we have ever gotten from Montgomery County – for our food pantry for the next year! And more funding may become available if a proposed supplemental appropriation to support nonprofits impacted by federal actions and the government shutdown is approved by the County Council on November 18th. Please let your council members know that this additional appropriation is vital for non-profits like MUM to help increasing numbers of neighbors who are in need.
This increased funding is also helping MUM to expand partnerships like the one we have with Albert Einstein High School, to distribute at different locations in our community. For instance, we are starting a new partnership with St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 4629 Aspen Hill Road to support their growing monthly “Nurturing Our Neighbors” food distribution. Starting November 16th, we will be providing food and some volunteers for this distribution from 3 to 4:30 on the third Sundays of each month. Again, if you are interested in volunteering or supporting this effort, please let us know at office@mumhelp.org.
MUM has also just received three grants from local foundations for much-needed general operating expenses as most of our grants for our programs only cover a small portion of salaries and other expenses. The FACES grant from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation will provide $10,000, the William S. Abell Foundation grant will provide $25,000, and a local foundation that prefers to remain anonymous is giving MUM another $10,000. This is the largest amount MUM has gotten for unrestricted funding of our operations in one year and it couldn’t have come at a better time as we scale up to meet the need in our community.
I greatly appreciate the many donations from individuals and faith communities to support our work at this critical time, as well as our many volunteers who give so much of their time to supporting our neighbors. Just like our dedicated volunteers in our food pantry who show up on a regular basis, recurring monthly donations are especially helpful to MUM to continue to meet the needs in our community. On December 2, people around the world will celebrate generosity on Giving Tuesday and we urge you to support MUM not just on that date, but throughout the year. Federal and State employees and retirees can also contribute to MUM through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC).
As we enter this season of gratitude, there are additional opportunities to support MUM with food and fund donations. As you will see below there is a collection at Kensington Park Senior Living on November 20. Please come out and help us “stuff the truck” with food, gift cards, and financial donations! On December 6th, MUM will receive donations through the Gregg Gannon Food Drive.
I am so grateful for you, our supporters! MUM wishes you and all our neighbors peace and joy during this Thanksgiving season, as we gather with friends and family and work together to lift up our neighbors in need.
Dayna Brown
Executive Director
MUM Neighbor of the Month
Late last year MUM helped Ms. Cannamore, a senior with a very limited income, with emergency financial assistance to prevent the disconnection of her electricity. She received food the day that she applied for assistance and started coming to MUM’s food pantry more regularly. Despite her health and financial challenges, she always has a smile on her face and is grateful for the food as well as the toiletries that we sometimes have for her.
Connecting Neighbors to Other Resources
In November, staff from The Latino Health Initiative (LHI) talked with clients coming to MUM’s food pantry about their health and resources that they can access in Montgomery County. This is part of MUM’s efforts to connect our neighbors to other programs and benefits that could help them address the many challenges they are facing. We have been particularly busy with inquiries and referrals the last few months from people who have not received their SNAP benefits and were affected by the government shutdown and who were seeking food, financial assistance, and other resources, so these partnerships are even more important than ever.
MUM Partner of the Month: Kensington Park Senior Living
Join the Kensington Park Senior Living Friendsgiving Stuff the Truck Food and Funds Drive
Kensington Park Senior Living is hosting their 10th annual Friendsgiving Celebration and Stuff the Truck food drive to benefit MUM. On November 20th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, anyone in the community can drop off food, gift cards, diapers, or make financial donations to MUM. Last year MUM received over 700 pounds of food, over $1,100 in donations and over $650 in gift cards from residents and partners of KPSL as well as community members! MUM’s Executive Director, Dayna Brown, will be in attendance along with senior leaders and partners of KPSL, so come out to donate and join us at this wonderful community event!
Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive
MUM will receive donations made through the Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive (GGCFD) during the first weekend of December (December 6 and 7)! For over thirty years, the GGCFD has been supporting food banks in the DC area through neighborhood food drives, launching a tradition of service for many families. We are delighted that again this year MUM will be a recipient and ask you to be sure to contribute food that weekend! To learn more about the GGCFD, see their website Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive.
Buy Giant Reusable Food Bags in November to Support MUM!
We are excited to remind supporters that during the entire month of November, MUM will receive $1 for each $2.75 reusable Community Bag sold at the Giant Food Store at Westfield Wheaton (2900 University Blvd West)! Be sure to shop at Giant Food and support both our community and the environment by buying durable, reusable shopping bags.
Speaking of bags, please donate any reusable bags and paper bags (with handles) that you don’t need for our food pantry.
Remember MUM on Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday 2025 will be here on December 2! MUM appreciates your support! Giving Tuesday is a global movement encouraging generosity. While it focuses on that specific date, you can contribute any time, knowing that your donations will go directly to our neighbors who depend on MUM for support through tough times! Help us make this Giving Tuesday a rallying day for MUM and for our clients by giving generously!
Give to MUM through the CFC and MCC
State and federal employees and retirees, including postal workers and those serving in the military, can once again make pledges or give to MUM through their workplaces through the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC) and the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
If you’re a federal employee or retiree, you can give to MUM through the CFC, which runs from October through December 2025. Contributing through the CFC allows you to give through payroll deduction or your retirement annuity, giving a little each pay period and supporting our mission all year long. Go to Combined Federal Campaign and search for MUM at CFC#43740.
We recognize that many of our federal employee neighbors and supporters are currently facing uncertainties, and appreciate all that you continue to do to support our community!
State employees and eligible retirees can also give to MUM through the MCC workplace charitable giving program through December 12, 2025. Go to Maryland Charity Campaign and search for MUM at MCC# 52-2072343.
Thanks for the Screams!
Haunted Trail on Old Scream Road
The Haunted Trail on Old Scream Road once again brought spooky Halloween fun to Old Spring Road in Kensington for Halloween 2025! Cash and food donations from this fun annual event support MUM and we are very grateful! We are grateful to our neighbors in Kensington who organize this fun event and who collected over $1,000 in donations for MUM!
Giving to MUM is easy!
Here’s how to make a financial donation | Here’s how you can help by volunteering.
MUM Office Hours
MUM’s office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9am to 4pm.
The MUM office food pantry is open by APPOINTMENTS ONLY and only to residents in these zip codes: 20853, 20895, 20896, 20901, 20902, 20906, 20910, and 20912. Neighbors can call 301-929-8675 to make an appointment, email us at office@mumhelp.org.
Neighbors may also access these sites instead of MUM’s office pantry each month:
Wheaton High School (in the cafeteria)
12401 Dalewood Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20906
* Final distribution for this school year will be June 10th from 3pm to 5pm
* You must have a student in MCPS to participate
Albert Einstein High School (in the cafeteria)
11135 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, MD 20895
* Final distribution for this school year will be June 10th from 3pm to 5pm
* You must have a student in MCPS to participate
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
4629 Aspen Hill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853
* 3rd Sunday of each Month from 3:00-4:30pm
Appointments
Appointments to apply for financial assistance for eviction prevention, utility shut-off prevention, and emergency prescription drugs can be made by contacting the MUM office by telephone at 301-929-8675, by email at office@mumhelp.org.
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