Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services Partners with Employee Labor Union for ‘Labor of Love’ Initiative to Benefit March of Dimes

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, one of the County's employee labor union, in cooperation with County Executive Marc Elrich, are supporting the “Labor of Love” initiative benefiting March of Dimes. The campaign will take place Nov. 23-Dec. 31.

All ABS retail stores will be asking customers if they want to make a dollar-amount donation to support March of Dimes and “Labor of Love” or round up their invoices to the nearest dollar.

ABS and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO have set a goal of raising $90,000 in the initiative, with monies raised to help March of Dimes improve maternal health, help babies be healthy and strong, and protect the health of families through programs and advocacy.

The campaign is now in its fourth year. Customers of ABS stores contributed $66,793 in 2024.

“March of Dimes is committed to helping families by supporting research, offering numerous programs, and providing education and advocacy so that every family has the resources needed as they welcome a new member to the family,” said County Executive Elrich. “I want to thank ABS and MCGEO for teaming up again to support the March of Dimes through the “Labor of Love” campaign. In addition to the health and safety benefits ABS provides Montgomery County through safe alcohol distribution, we are proud of the ABS employees’ dedication to this campaign that has raised more than $185,000 over the past three years.”

The March of Dimes approach:

• Fund and support innovative research to solve the biggest problems in maternal and infant health.
• Advocate for prioritization of our nation’s moms and babies and action to improve their health.
• Educate and help every family have healthy pregnancies regardless of wealth, race, gender, or geography.

“ABS joins March of Dimes in the steadfast belief that working together we can make sure that moms and babies have the best possible start,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “ABS has always been committed to public health and safety, and this campaign is a natural extension of that commitment.”

The U.S. remains one of the most dangerous developed countries to give birth. Two women die from pregnancy-related issues each day, two babies die every hour in the U.S., and one in 10 is born too soon. Learn more about March of Dimes at www.marchofdimes.org.

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. Additionally, ABS manages alcohol licensing for over 1,000 businesses and handles enforcement and alcohol education for the County. Generating tens of millions of dollars in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt, with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.

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Release ID: 25-422
Media Contact: Jocelyn Rawat 202-604-7289
Categories: Alcoholic Beverage