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Montgomery County’s Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) MC Groceries program has continued to see an increase in enrollment since the program launched in early 2024 and is on pace to serve over 680 families experiencing food insecurity this year.
In partnership with Instacart, the program provides grocery benefits and home delivery to County families with children who are experiencing food insecurity but are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
In its first two years, MC Groceries expanded its reach, growing enrollment from 543 families in Program Year One to 674 families in Program Year Two, a 24% increase, serving 1,427 children across Montgomery County. To date, participating families have placed more than 12,000 grocery orders, with benefit purchases totaling more than $1.32 million.
MC Groceries was created as one of several initiatives implemented through the County’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger. Participating families use their benefits through Instacart Health Fresh Funds to purchase food from local stores on the Instacart app that aligns with their unique dietary, cultural, and nutritional needs. Enrolled households receive $100 in Fresh Funds credits per eligible child under the age of 18 each month, up to $400 monthly.
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“The rising cost of living continues to put pressure on households across our community,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “MC Groceries offers critical support to families experiencing food insecurity by providing reliable access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods. By partnering with trusted community organizations and leveraging innovative tools, we ensure families have the dignity of choosing foods that best fit their needs.”
Program data showed that benefits redemption increased from 93% in Year One to 98% in Year Two while purchasing patterns remained stable. Fresh fruits and vegetables were the two most frequently purchased food categories, as well as household staples such as milk, eggs, poultry, and cooking ingredients.
Program participant survey data illustrates how MC Groceries also helps families address logistical barriers beyond the cost of food. Limited time, unreliable transportation, and child care responsibilities were reported as common challenges to accessing groceries. Program participation allowed families that previously relied on public transportation or walking to access grocery delivery services, with overall grocery delivery use increasing by almost 50% after enrollment. Participants also reported reduced stress around affording groceries and greater access to healthier and more diverse food options for their children.
“MC Groceries invests in the health of our community not only by putting food on families’ tables, but by providing families with the dignity to choose grocery items and retailers that meet their unique needs, as well as more time to cook meals or help with homework,” said Heather Bruskin, director of OFSR.
Approximately nine in ten participants reported being employed, reinforcing the role of the program in reaching working families that fall into the self-sufficiency gap, who continue to have difficulty affording food but have incomes too high to qualify for SNAP. Employment among participants increased by 5% after program participation.
“We’re grateful to the Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience for three years of groundbreaking partnership and for building a program that meets working families where they are,” said Casey Aden-Wansbury, Instacart Vice President, Head of Global Public Policy. “When we talk about food access, we’re talking about real families—parents who are working hard, doing everything right, and still worry about how they’re going to put food on the table for their children. Our partnership with Montgomery County is designed to give them a much-needed helping hand.”
“I can order groceries from my phone, even while I am at work. It has been much more than food assistance. It has given my family stability, dignity, and hope during some of the hardest moments of our lives,” said one MC Groceries participant in the post-program survey.
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Another participant noted that the MC Groceries assistance “allows me to purchase the healthier foods that I normally have to limit because of my budget. The program has eased some of the financial pressure and has allowed me to provide healthier food choices for my grandson.”
Program Year Two Highlights
- A new partnership with Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Services to End and Prevent Homelessness connected 10 families living in transitional housing with MC Groceries benefits.
- Families who lost SNAP benefits due to federal eligibility changes received a one-time $100 benefit to help ease the transition. The Instacart partnership also allowed the program to respond to emerging needs beyond standard MC Groceries enrollment.
- The number of households responding to the participant survey increased from 95 in Program Year One to 368 in Program Year Two, a 287% increase, after the program introduced a one-time $20 Fresh Fund incentive for survey completion.
- 98% of participants reported being “Very Satisfied” or “Satisfied” with the MC Groceries Program and felt that the program helped them access more foods they wanted or needed.
- Housing, food, and bills and utilities were the expenses most often identified as placing the greatest strain on household budgets. Among survey respondents, 77% selected housing, 66% selected food, and 55% selected bills and utilities when asked to identify the three expenses placing the greatest strain on their household budget.
- More than 60% of participants reported receiving no other forms of food assistance. Among non-food assistance received, child care (48%) and health care (42%) were the most common.
- 24% fewer participants reported “often worrying” about running out of food and not being able to afford more, as compared to Program Year One.
New in Program Year Two was a coordinated partnership between County government agencies and community-based organizations, connecting households to MC Groceries benefits while also identifying other benefits and resources for which they may be eligible. The DHHS Navigation Team and DHHS’ Behavioral Health & Crisis Services, alongside staff of the Montgomery County Food Council and Manna Food Center, work directly with applicants to offer eligibility verification, application assistance, and ongoing troubleshooting support.
“MC Groceries has been an invaluable resource for the families served through the Montgomery County Community Action Agency’s Navigation Program,” said Monica Rivera-Goldberg, navigation manager. “It provides immediate, meaningful assistance while complementing the team’s broader work to help families access benefits, strengthen household stability, and move toward greater independence and self-sufficiency.”
For more information, visit the MC Groceries webpage or email ofsr@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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Read the original article at mcgov
