Red Brick Courthouse, 2nd floor, Rockville
As prepared
Good morning!
Thank you very much to everyone here today from the nonprofit community to government partners and caring residents.
Your attendance shows how committed and compassionate Montgomery County is when it comes to caring for our most vulnerable. I would also like to thank the Montgomery County Food Council for organizing today's event.
I would also like to recognize and thank Council President Roger Berliner who led the creation of the food security plan legislation.
The Council and I have worked to make Montgomery County the most welcoming community in America. That means treating everyone with respect and dignity.
So when I think about the work that many of you do on a daily basis to make sure that all Montgomery County residents have access to food, I know it is one of the most fundamental things we can provide. The five-year plan that you all are here to discuss is a large step forward in that direction.
Hunger is a complex issue. It is at the same time a symptom and a root cause. Different populations within our County face different barriers and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
All people should have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food. But it is also important to respect their dignity as human beings when we provide food assistance. When we do this we truly solidify our position as the most welcoming community in America.
This plan provides a guide for all of us as we work together to eliminate hunger in the County.
The first year of this plan is one of description and not prescription. As we collect better data and provide better outreach tools, the food security system in the County will become stronger and more efficient.
I would love to be able to tell you that we have a surplus of money in our fight to tackle this issue. But that is simply not the case. Compassion and hard work are the backbone of our food security system but in these times we must also be judicious with our resources. That is part of the reason this document is so important. It adds thoughtful planning to our compassion.
I would like to leave you with a final thought before you continue with today's program. There are more than 140 different food assistance programs in Montgomery County. We don't lack in the number of caring people.
From larger organizations like Manna Foods and the Capital Area Food Bank to small pantries in the basements of our churches, there are many opportunities to help those in need.
I hope that as you contemplate how your organization will use this plan, you think of ways in which you can work more closely with each other.
Sharing resources and information is the fastest way to strengthen our food security system.
I look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor in the coming years. This is not a problem we will solve overnight; but it is one that we must we will address more fully.
Thank you!
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Release ID: 17-021