****PHOTO OPPORTUNITY**** Roshdieh, Ride On and Manna Food to Kick Off Give and Ride Week, April 23-29

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 17, 2017

Tuesday, April 18; 9 a.m.

Circle Outside Executive Office Building

101 Monroe Street, Rockville

 

Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Al Roshdieh will join Ride On Transit Services Division Chief Dan Hibbert and Manna Food Center Chief Executive Officer Jackie DeCarlo in inviting Ride On bus passengers -- as well as any Montgomery County resident -- to donate food during MCDOT’s annual Give and Ride program. Ride On has been sponsoring the food donation program for three decades.

 

This year, Give and Ride runs from Sunday, April 23 through Saturday, April 29. Passengers get a free ride in exchange for a non-perishable food item and donations go to Manna Food Center. Food collection bags will be placed near the fare boxes on all Ride On buses.

 

Requested non-perishable food items include canned fruit or vegetables, canned chicken, tuna or salmon, canned or dried beans, nut butters, roasted nuts, whole grain rice or pasta, oatmeal, shelf-stable milk boxes and granola/cereal bars. Additionally, healthy food for children, disposable diapers, formula, baby or toddler food and juice are desired. View a list of the foods most needed online. Appropriate foods may be used by Manna Food Center for their “Smart Sack” program for kids, which provides weekend food for 2,450 needy, elementary school students. Donated items should be in unbreakable containers only.

 

Manna Food Center provides nutritious food to thousands of families experiencing hunger and continues to see a steady increase in the number of people needing assistance. Several years ago, Manna asked Ride On to shift Give and Ride to the spring to help Manna stock its shelves at a time when their food supplies typically run low.

 

Those who don’t use Ride On can still donate items. Give your donations to any Ride On bus operator, or drop off donations directly to Manna Foods, 9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

 

For information about Ride On, call 311 or TDD/TTY 301-251-4850, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or visit the Division of Transit Services website.

 

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Media Contact: Esther Bowring 240-777-7155