In a move to combat food insecurity, Montgomery County has granted $304,000 to local organizations dedicated to connecting families with essential nutrition support as part of an ongoing effort channeled through the FY25 Nutrition Benefits Outreach Grant Program (NBO). Funding these groups are expanding services aimed at informing the community about available nutrition benefits they might not otherwise tap into.
According to a press release from Montgomery County, families eligible for, yet not enrolled in, programs like SNAP and WIC are being targeted for assistance, with the Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) driving the initiative. The granted funds are expected to enhance outreach and bridge gaps in cultural and language barriers that could hinder access to these resources.
County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized the urgent need for such programs, telling Montgomery County, "Far too many families in our community are struggling with food insecurity, even though they qualify for programs that can help." The granted initiatives provide a holistic strategy that aligns with Montgomery County's Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger, focusing on improving access to nutrition benefits for families.
Heather Bruskin, director of the OFSR, highlighted the integrated approach of the NBO Grant Program, which simplifies access by screening for multiple programs simultaneously, enabling residents to be aware of and make the most of all potential benefits; she reiterated this during a statement where she said, "While SNAP is our nation’s first line of defense in the fight against hunger, residents often aren’t aware of the other benefits they may be eligible to receive. These grants invest in community organizations with the language skills and technical expertise needed to connect with families in trusted spaces," as noted by Montgomery County.
Further cementing the county's dedication, Allison Schnitzer, acting co-executive director of the Montgomery County Food Council, expressed gratitude for the county's support and applauded the OFSR's comprehensive approach. She shared with Montgomery County how the new funds will significantly enhance their ability to link more families to an array of assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, SUN Bucks, farmers market matching programs, and County food resources.
