Press Releases - Department of Transportation
Participate in “Give and Ride” April 23-29 and Help Feed Area’s Neediest Families
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 3, 2017
MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh (second from right), Ride On Transit Services Division Chief Dan Hibbert (left) and Manna Food Center Chief Executive Officer Jackie DeCarlo (right) were joined by Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner (second from left) and Councilmember Sidney Katz to kick off next week’s program to help the needy.
Ride On bus passengers can help needy families and ride free by donating canned or nonperishable food during our 30th annual “Give and Ride” food drive. Ride On will collect donations from Sunday, April 23 through Saturday, April 29.
Food collection bags will be placed near the fare boxes on all Ride On buses. In addition to non-perishable food, items for children, such as healthy items, disposable diapers, formula, baby or toddler food and juice are especially needed. 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 in unbreakable containers only.
Food collected through the drive goes to the Manna Food Center, which feeds thousands of hungry families a month. Manna continues to see a steady increase in the number of families needing assistance. Several years ago, the drive was shifted to the spring to help Manna stock its shelves at a time when their food supplies run low.
Even if you don’t use Ride On, you 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 on 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’s website.
Media Contact: Esther Bowring 240-777-7155
