Meeting the Needs of Our Community
Created just a few years ago to address urgent short-term needs, Nourishing Bethesda (NB) stands today as one of the fastest-growing food insecurity organizations in our region. Our history demonstrates our ability to meet the needs of our community, to grow, and to adapt while developing a stronger community.
NB has expanded working effectively and in collaboration with thousands of clients, strategic partners, volunteers, donors, county legislators, county staff members, and civic groups. Building on our solid track record, we are actively expanding our reach to serve more clients, offer wraparound services, and develop more ways to address food insecurity in an area where the need is too often invisible. Today, we support nearly 5,000 individuals each month – from families and seniors to the previously homeless.
Launching as an Emergency Program
In July 2020, at the height of COVID-19, three representatives of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish in Bethesda met with County Council Member Andrew Friedson and key employees of the county to discuss how the congregation might support the community during this time of crisis. By the following month, a team of volunteers inaugurated the first food distribution at the Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rescue Squad, building on a previously established partnership between the two organizations.
The first Friday afternoon distribution drew 100 families, a number that swelled to 600 a year later. By the end of the calendar year 2022, Nourishing Bethesda was providing nutritious food packages of vegetables, fruit, eggs, bread, cereal, and assorted shelf-stable food to reach an average of 4,000 people in need every month.
Gaining Our 501(c)3 Status
In Fall 2022, we separated legally and financially from St. John's and became our own, non-sectarian non-profit with an independent board of directors. We evolved from a grab-and-go model to an appointment model, which enabled us to begin offering more strategic and holistic services to the more than 5,000 people whom we now reach monthly. We expanded to deliver food to two low-income senior high rises, a 200-bed men’s shelter, and a 32-person permanent transitional housing complex. In October 2023, we launched our Weekend Food Bag program at Bethesda Elementary, which provides us with the means to meet the direct needs of children facing food insecurity, and to introduce our resources to their families.
Working collaboratively with our many partners and volunteers, during Fiscal Year 2023 (January 1-December 31, 2023), we reached 1,485 non-duplicated families. Over those same twelve months, we distributed more than 460,000 pounds of food.
Recognition of Our Work
From the very beginning, NB identified its mission as delivering not only food, but also caring and community. In addition, a priority includes developing volunteerism in our community by offering rich volunteer opportunities for citizens of all abilities and backgrounds. We take seriously our job of deepening the understanding of legislators and the public about food insecurity issues.
With this in mind, we are deeply grateful for the recognition our work has garnered. Our work has received citations from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman. We also regularly receive visits from County Councilmembers and other leaders to volunteer and get to know NB’s programming.
