Summer 2021 Community Food Rescue E-Newsletter

Summer 2021

Summer produce is bursting in the markets now and CFR steps up to match local farmers with food assistance providers. Meet the farmers and see how the Islamic Center connects food with health. Read on to learn more.

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County Farm to Food Bank Flourishes

The Montgomery County Farm to Food Bank program, born last year at the height of the global pandemic to help both farmers and people who are food insecure, was an idea that continues to flourish. Manna Food Center purchases freshly harvested produce, eggs, and meat from local farms. These products are then donated to food assistance organizations through Manna’s Community Food Rescue (CFR) program.

“We’ve expanded the purpose of Community Food Rescue to match fresh farm products with food providers, and deliver this food,” explains Cheryl Kollin, CFR Program Director.

Meet The Farmers

Of the 23 dedicated farmers who have joined the Farm to Food Bank program this year, meet three women farmers from Beauty Blooms Farm, Fresh Mama Farm, and Tikkun Olam Farm. Each farmer shares what growing food for our community means to her.

A long-term benefit of the County Farm to Food Bank program, especially for beginning farmers, is building relationships with food assistance providers while contributing to the local food economy in Montgomery County. This effort is a win-win-win for local farmers, food assistance organizations that seek fresh produce and proteins, and for the people they serve.

Connecting Food and Health

The Islamic Center of Maryland’s (ICM) Social Service Food Pantry provides a monthly food box for community families in Gaithersburg who need assistance. They regularly receive food from Manna Food Center, Community Food Rescue, and others for their food boxes.

In mid-May, they also wanted to help people to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Adileh Sharieff, an ICM Board member, related how they got creative.