Annual Montgomery County ‘Give and Ride Food Drive’ to Run from May 22–31 – Mocofeed

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Manna Food Center are partnering again in their annual effort to invite residents to help fight hunger in Montgomery County.  

More than 34% of County residents are facing food insecurity, according to Manna Food Center. The number of food insecure residents in the County has grown steadily over the past three years. In 2023, 27% of County residents were food insecure. 

The annual Ride On Food Drive will take place from Friday, May 22, to Sunday, May 31. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off on all of the County’s buses including Ride On, extRa, Flex, and Flash buses, which remain zero-fare for all passengers. 

“Food insecurity is a growing crisis in our region,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Nearly 280,000 Montgomery County residents do not have reliable access to nutritious food and rely on food distribution centers like Manna Food Center to help fill that gap.  I encourage anyone who is able to donate nutritious non-perishable food items on County buses, or at any of the drop-off centers, between May 22 and 31.” 

Food donations will also be accepted at participating Montgomery County Public Libraries, the Wheaton Headquarters Building, and the Leggett Executive Office Building and Council Office Building in Rockville. Food collected during the drive will be distributed by Manna Food Center through its network of locations across the County. Last year Manna Food Center donated more than three million pounds of food to more than 56,000 participants. 

“MCDOT has partnered with Manna Food Center for 33 years to help combat hunger in Montgomery County,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “I encourage anyone who is able to join me in donating non-perishable food at any of our drop-off locations including on board our Ride On buses.”   

In addition to County Ride On buses, food donations will also be accepted at the following locations: 

Montgomery County Libraries 

Bethesda 

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• Connie Morella Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda. 

• Davis Library (North Bethesda), 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. 

Gaithersburg 

• Gaithersburg Library,18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. 

Kensington 

• Kensington Park Library, 4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington. 

Olney 

• Olney Library, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney. 

Potomac 

• Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac. 

Rockville 

• Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville. 

• Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville. 

Silver Spring 

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• Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring. 

• White Oak Library, 1701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. 

County Offices 

• Leggett Executive Office Building,101 Monroe St., Rockville. 

• County Council Office Building,100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. 

 Manna Food Center Locations 

• Manna Food Center Warehouse, 9311 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg. 

• Manna Food Center, Administrative Office,12301 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring.  

Manna Food Center is a leader in the fight against hunger and food waste in Montgomery County. Through innovative partnerships and solutions, Manna collects food and delivers it to families in need through pop-up pantries, school-based programs, education and community food rescue and a Farm to Food Bank program.    

“Demand for food assistance in our community is on the rise,” said Craig Rice, CEO of Manna Food Center. “Every single donation from this drive directly supports a neighbor in need. We are relying on the incredible generosity of Montgomery County to help us ensure no one goes hungry. Thank you for stepping up to make a difference.”  

Manna Food’s website lists the following items as high need: instant oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta, canned tuna, beans, shelf-stable milk boxes, cooking oils, and spices.  

Learn more and view a list of much-needed items as well as all drop-off locations on the MCDOT Food Drive webpage.  Watch a video on what to donate on the MCDOT YouTube page.  

For information on MCDOT programs and services, follow @MCDOTNow on  X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.       

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