Director’s Corner

Happy Spring! Amidst the changing temperatures and challenges in our community, new partnerships and initiatives are blooming at MUM! Below are highlights of a visit by county leaders to our new school-based food distribution at Wheaton High School. We share information on a new grant that is supporting case work for our many neighbors facing financial instability and other grants that are supporting our food and emergency financial assistance programs.

As MUM celebrates 30 years in 2026, we are undertaking a strategic planning process. We are seeking input from our clients, volunteers, and donors. Please see the surveys below and share your feedback and ideas to help MUM continue to grow and meet the needs in our community.

Lastly, MUM could not support our neighbors without many volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering with MUM by serving on our Board of Directors, helping with our food programs, helping with administrative needs, fundraising, communications or IT support, or in other ways, please let me know. We are so grateful for the many volunteers who give of their time and effort along with our donors who give to support our neighbors. You are an important part of our team! Thank you for your donations and investment in MUM and the new partnerships we are nurturing to better meet the needs of our neighbors! 

In Gratitude,
Dayna Brown
Executive Director

Partnership with Wheaton High School

Staff from the Montgomery County Food Council, the Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR), and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) joined MUM and Wheaton High School staff for our March community food distribution at Wheaton High School. Launched in January with OFSR Community Food Assistance Grant funding, MUM’s food distribution at Wheaton High School is open to all community families with school-aged children and currently serves about 100 households each month. Families select fresh fruits and vegetables and nutritious nonperishable items in a free-choice format.

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Left to right, Caroline Davenport, staff of County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, Annmarie Hart-Bookbinder from the Montgomery County Food Council, MUM Executive Director Dayna Brown, MUM Grant Manager Karen Holt, MUM volunteer Ajit Gadre, and MUM Program Manager Jackie Ventura.

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Left to right: Wheaton High School Principal Pamela Krawczel, MUM Executive Director Dayna Brown, and MCPS Superintendent Tom Taylor.

Dayna Brown discusses MUM’s role in providing community food assistance at Wheaton High School, as well as our OFSR-funded Food as Medicine program in partnership with Wheaton’s Health & Wellness Center[ Wheaton HS – Wellness Center | Wheaton HS] staff and clinicians. According to school leadership, MUM’s food assistance completes their scope of wraparound care that enables the greater school community to thrive.

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Left to Right: Annmarie Hart-Bookbinder, Febe Martinez, Sharon Strerath from the MC Food Council and Dayna Brown, MUM’s Executive Director and Ruth Harvey, a member of MUM’s Board of Directors. 

The Montgomery County Food Council’s Food Resources Team shared resources and talked with families interested in applying for SNAP or other nutrition benefits programs (FARMS, Sun Bucks, MC Groceries) during the March food distribution at Wheaton High School. MUM hopes to continue bringing additional wraparound services and community resources to this site and to our other neighborhood pantry locations.

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HIF Grant Expands Case Work at MUM

More of our neighbors are turning to MUM with complex challenges. Some are seeking help for the first time after federal job or benefit cuts and aren’t sure where to begin. Others are struggling with rising costs, health issues, or job instability and aren’t sure how they’re going to stay afloat. Others are living in fear, suffering from job losses, and the deportation of family members and breadwinners.

Thanks to funding from the HealthCare Initiative Foundation (HIF), MUM has expanded our case work services to better support these neighbors. Since the fall, master’s-level social work intern Maddy Jones has been an essential part of our team and now, with HIF’s support, works one-on-one with clients as a Case Worker.

Maddy does intakes with neighbors applying for emergency financial assistance, helps them navigate programs and eligibility requirements, connects them with county services, from healthcare, additional food assistance, employment, and other vital resources, and follows up to ensure they receive the support they need. We are grateful to HIF for helping MUM turn moments of crisis into pathways toward stability and long-term wellbeing for our neighbors.

Ongoing Partnerships Support Key Programs

MUM gratefully acknowledges a $5,000 contribution from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation to support our neighbors at this difficult time. This generous gift follows a recent $10,000 Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support (FACES) Grant award from the Foundation to support our programs and operations. 

For the second year in a row, Adventist HealthCare’s Community Partnership Fund has awarded MUM a $10,000 grant to provide utility assistance for clients facing disconnections and rent assistance to clients facing eviction. This is critical as we continue to see record numbers of people inquiring about and applying for emergency financial assistance. 

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has once again provided $12,500 in grant support to MUM to provide healthy food for our neighbors at our food pantry. Funded by the Maryland Department of Human Services, the Capital Area Food Bank has also awarded MUM a $14,500 grant to provide food assistance to our neighbors.

We are deeply thankful for these continued partnerships and investment in our work and in the wellbeing of our community.

Reflecting on the Past and Planning for the Future

As MUM celebrates 30 years in 2026, we are undertaking a strategic planning process to guide our future. As part of this process, we are gathering feedback and input from our neighbors who have visited our full choice food pantry and/or who have received financial assistance in the past year or so. These surveys are being administered by staff and volunteers throughout the month of March. 

We also want to hear from our donors and volunteers like you!

If you would like to talk to one of our staff or board members to provide feedback and ideas, please email office@mumhelp.org or call our office at 301-929-8675.  

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience, perspectives, and ideas to make MUM stronger and more effective in supporting our neighbors on the path to stability today and in the years to come.