Montgomery County has awarded seven local organizations a total of $200,000 to bolster efforts to expand access to food production, horticulture and small-scale agriculture.
The grants will be funded through the county's Resident and Community Food Garden Grant Program and are expected to serve more than 1,800 residents.
The affected organizations are:
AfriThrive: The organization plans to expand its “Promoting Culturally Appropriate Foods” program to a new location at Kemp Mill Elementary School with the goal of diversifying crop selection and availability and increasing educational and technical assistance opportunities for participants. Community Food Forest Collective: The group plans to increase the amount of land under production within the Montgomery County Food Forest Network, which includes Montgomery College Takoma Park Campus and Takoma Park Elementary School. Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER): The organization will expand its neighborhood gardening program to three more locations, engaging new members of the Long Branch Gardeners group. Islamic Center of Maryland (ICM): The group plans to expand production of culturally appropriate herbs, fruits and vegetables in the center’s community garden, as well as provide educational opportunities through participation in the center’s children’s program. Harvested produce will be donated to the ICM Cares Social Services Food Pantry program. Shepherd's Table: The organization plans to electrify a greenhouse behind Progress Place in Silver Spring to grow crops year-round that will serve more than 180,000 meals a year at Shepherd's Table.
Charles Coyner Urban Farming Center: Located at A. Mario Leuderman Middle School, this community-based educational farm will expand to support food access for Wheaton families. People's Community Baptist Church: The church will expand its garden to provide more young people in the predominantly Black church community the opportunity to grow and harvest organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers.
“Our commitment to local food production and access goes beyond just growing food,” said County Mayor Marc Elrich. “It's about building resilient communities, improving public health and fostering a deeper connection to the environment. These grants will help thousands of residents who have had significant barriers to accessing nutritious, culturally valuable foods. By supporting these innovative projects, we are empowering residents to take control of their food sources and contribute to a sustainable future for Montgomery County.”
“The Gardening Grant Program was initially launched as part of the County’s COVID-19 pandemic response and has since expanded significantly to engage a diverse network of residents and community organizations,” said Heather Bruskin, director of the Montgomery County Food Systems Resiliency Office.
These programs “not only increase access to nutritious foods, but also directly benefit the long-term health of communities and natural resources,” she said.
