For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 30, 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 30, 2020—Today the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a $750,000 special appropriation initiated by Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice to help address the County’s increasing level of food insecurity among community members and their families. The economic hardships experienced by countless County residents as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have created ever-increasing and sustained demands on food banks, nonprofit providers and community service partners providing food assistance. Councilmember Albornoz is chair of the Health and Human Services Committee; Councilmember Navarro is chair of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee; and Councilmember Rice is chair of the Education and Culture Committee.
The $750,000 in funding will be allocated as follows: $400,000 for nonprofit organizations; $300,000 to secure ethnic and culturally appropriate food items from ethnic grocery stores located in the County to be distributed in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations; and $50,000 to increase the County’s contract with the Montgomery County Food Council to provide continued planning, coordination and implementation of food security efforts. Food security is an urgent priority for the Council, and funds must be disbursed by the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) no later than May 21.
The funding from the special appropriation will be provided through the Montgomery County Government Covid-19 Human Services and Community Assistance Non-Departmental Account. DHHS has also directed $500,000 in additional funding to provide immediate support for food assistance providers, and this special appropriation will further this ongoing and essential work.
Each special appropriation must specify the source of funds to finance it, and this funding will be paid for by the County’s General Fund Reserves. In addition, the County will seek federal and state reimbursement for any eligible costs. The County also is committed to collaborating with the philanthropic sector to maximize the assistance that can be provided.
The Council staff report for this special appropriation can be viewed here.
# # #
Release ID: 20-185