Please Support Our Neighbors this Holiday Season!
Director’s Corner
I am so grateful for the many individuals, faith communities, businesses, civic organizations, community partners, board members, volunteers and others who have given to MUM already this holiday season! THANK YOU! We could not support our neighbors without you!
Many of our neighbors in Montgomery County continue to struggle with basic necessities like food, shelter, water, and electricity. In December we helped another family get their electricity turned back on just before the cold weather returned. And many neighbors came to stock up on fresh produce and non-perishable items for the holidays.
The recent report from Feeding America, referenced below, reflects what we hear from so many of our neighbors–that they must often choose between buying food and paying for essentials like rent, utilities, and healthcare. Many of our neighbors who access MUM’s food pantry and/or apply for emergency financial assistance are employed. However, having a job does not guarantee freedom from food insecurity and they often face these difficult choices—ones that MUM believes no one should ever have to make.
The good news is that, with your support, MUM is able to help, not only through our programs, but with connections and referrals to other community resources. I am so proud that all of our staff and volunteers take the time to really listen to those who come to MUM for assistance and support them as they face difficult times. The gratitude from our neighbors is tremendous and keeps us motivated to do all we can to support them.
MUM relies on a wide range of funding sources – including many individual donors like you – to do this work. That’s why we’ve set a fundraising goal of $60,000 this holiday season. Read the end of year fundraising update below to see what’s already been accomplished, and how you can help us reach this important goal!
Thank you in advance for caring about and providing support to our neighbors who are struggling. We couldn’t do our work without your amazing support!
All of us at MUM wish our donors, volunteers, and all our neighbors a healthy and happy holiday season. Many thanks to our community for helping us to support neighbors who need it!
With best wishes in this holiday season,
Dayna Brown
Executive Director
MUM Celebrates the Holidays
MUM board, staff, and volunteers enjoyed some time together to celebrate the holidays and say thanks. Our thanks especially go to Jules O’Rear, a long-time volunteer and board member who recently stepped off MUM’s Board of Directors. And congratulations from all of us at MUM to MUM’s Vice President of the Board, Tara Kern, and husband, as they prepare to welcome a baby early in 2025!
End of Year Fundraising Update
We have set a goal to raise $60,000 this holiday season. So far, we have raised nearly half of that goal! We’re hoping that you can help us get to or beyond that $60,000 number!
If you have already given or are a recurring donor – thank you! – and please consider giving more or increasing your monthly donation to help us meet the tremendous needs in our community. If your employer has a matching donation program, please let us know, as that is a great way to double your gift! You can also donate in honor of someone, and we are happy to provide a card to the honoree.
If you’re a state employee or retiree and supported MUM this year through its first-ever participation in the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC) – thanks for giving to MUM through your workplace!
MUM also participated for the first time in the Combined Federal Campaign, which runs through January 15, 2025. So far over $1,500 has been raised through the FCC! Federal employees and retirees, there’s still time to give to MUM through your workplace. In fact, the CFC is encouraging donations as the campaign reaches its peak. To donate, go to Combined Federal Campaign and for MUM at CFC# 43740.
Or use the QR code below:
To everyone who participated in Giving Tuesday by giving to MUM – our sincere thanks. MUM added nearly $7,000 to our resources thanks to your generosity on this special day of giving!
Thanks also to Macy’s Wheaton Plaza and to those who participated in their RoundUp opportunity, which raised $784.25 for MUM! We are very grateful to Macy’s for their long-standing partnership with MUM!
MUM is also grateful for local food drives that have helped to support our mission. Through Kensington Park Senior Living’s Friendsgiving Stuff the Truck event in November, 745 pounds of food were donated along with $670 in gift cards and $1,150 in financial donations. MUM is very grateful for our long-standing partnership and this wonderful annual community event!
The annual Greg Gannon Food Drive provided nearly 1,000 pounds of donated food to MUM in early December. Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Cedar Lane Universal Unitarian Church food drives also provided over 400 pounds of non-perishable food. The Women’s Club of Kensington donated diapers, feminine hygiene products and wonderful gift bags with toiletries for women who came to the food pantry in December.
Thank you, thank you, thank you – for what has been given and what will be shared going forward – and for supporting what MUM does. Please visit our website, www.mumhelp.org to give online, or mail a check to P.O. Box 1924, Silver Spring, MD 20915-1901. All gifts to MUM are tax-deductible. Thank you!
We also need more volunteers, so if you would like to give your time and talents, please email our office at office@mumhelp.org or send us a message through our website at https://mumhelp.org/contact-us/.
Elevating the Voices of People Experiencing Hunger
Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States, recently issued a report entitled Elevating Voices – Insights Report. As a partner of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) MUM is also a member of Feeding America, which serves as an umbrella organization of food banks, so some of our data and reporting to CAFB is used in both of their reports.
As we hear from our neighbors and as noted in this report, people experiencing food insecurity often must choose between buying food and paying for essentials like health care and rent. Particularly in our area where the cost of living is high, having a steady job does not guarantee freedom from hunger, and that hope comes through community.
MUM is grateful to all those in our local community who support our work, and we encourage you to read the stories and learn more about the lived experience of people struggling with food insecurity and this vital work through this report.
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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