FOOD PANTRY
Mission: To do Christ’s work by helping relieve hunger among the residents in the Greater Fort Washington Community.
OPEN ON SATURDAYS AT 9:30 AM
FORT WASHINGTON FOOD PANTRY
The Fort Washington Food Pantry is located in the second floor of the educational building of St John’s Church – Broad Creek. For the last 30 years it has been open each Saturday morning to offer much needed groceries to local families in need.
The Food Pantry is sponsored jointly by St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Grace Lutheran Church, which are located in Fort Washington, Maryland. We are a 501(c) (3) in the name of St. John’s Church – Broad Creek.
Our sponsors furnish most of the volunteers who manage and operate the food pantry. They raise money and they locate and transport huge quantities of needed food. We are also grateful to a number of generous corporations, non-profit groups, and farmers, who share with us their surplus food. Many individuals and organizations offer cash donations which allow us to round out our food supplies to make a balanced menu.
Our membership in helps us to stretch those dollars The Capitol Area Food Bank is the biggest source of food for the Fort Washington Food Pantry. Each week our food pantry receives a wonderful truckload of food from the food bank. We get non-perishable foods as well as fresh and frozen items. This food is donated to the food bank from a wide variety of wonderful people and organizations. The food at the food bank is available to tax-exempt charities who use it to feed the needy in the local area. For more information visit their web site at: www.capitalareafoodbank.org
The Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network’s mission is to fight hunger by harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables from farms and orchards through a partnership of farms, donors, volunteers, and food providers. We are grateful recipients of this work. The Gleaners need volunteer assistance and will share produce with those volunteers. Call 703.370.0155 for their schedule. The Gleaners maintain a warehouse in Cheltenham, Maryland on Highway 301. For more information visit their web site at: www.MidAtlanticGleaningNetwork.org.
Panera Bread Cafe of Waldorf bakes and sells artisan bread. The Food Pantry thanks Panera for their “Bread donation” each Friday morning. High quality Panera bread is a real treat for our client families.
Scouts:
Each November area Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts bring us much needed food supplies. Scout Troop 1572 of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Piscataway and Cub Scout Pack 1661 and Boy Scout Troop 1551 both of Fort Washington Baptist Church bring us so much food! Bags of food are everywhere, even down the hall. In no time, the shelves will be filled to overflowing.
GUIDELINES
Food Pantry Sponsors: St. John’s Episcopal Church and Grace Lutheran Church.
Open: Saturdays – 9:30 a.m., except for holidays and the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Service Area: You must live in one of the following zip codes: 20607, 20616, 20640, 20735, 20744, 20745, and 20748.
Eligibility Requirements: Clients need to bring a picture ID and proof of address such as an old utility bill on their first visit to the food pantry.
Frequency of visits: Twice a month.
Client information needed: Name, number in household, and a photo ID
Food Distribution: This is a client choice food pantry. Clients are given a number in an orderly manner, drawn by lottery, for access to the pantry. Some food items may be limited. If you do not respond when your number is called, you must wait until the last person with a number is served.
Guns: No guns are permitted in or near the food pantry.
Unplanned closing: The food pantry may be closed due to bad weather, flooding of the parking lot, or problems within, or access to the building. Information may be available at the website https://www.fortwashingtonfoodpantry.net. If the food pantry is closed on Saturday due to problems beyond our control, the pantry may be open the following Wednesday from 4 – 6 p.m. Call 301.248.4290 (press 5) for more information.
Parking: Use the parking lot north of the building. The circle in front of the building is for drop off and pick up only. Please do not park on the grass.
Staff: The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers who work here so that there is food for distribution to those in need in the greater Fort Washington area.
RESOURCES
Service Area: You must live in one of the following zip codes: 20607, 20616, 20640, 20735, 20744, 20745, and 20748. Those living in other areas are urged to visit one of the listed food pantries within your area as listed below:
Local Food Pantries & Selected Services:
- Homeless Hotline: 1-888-731-0999
Food Supplement Programs – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):
- https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/programs/capacity-building/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/
- https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
- https://dhr.maryland.gov/food-supplement-program/
Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Lifeline: 202-644-9807
Food Pantries Organization (Maryland Cities):
Soup Kitchens, Pantries and Food Banks (Maryland Cities):
Recipes from the Capital Area Food Bank Kitchen:
Need a warm place to go?
Prince George’s County Hypothermia Hotline – Phone: 301.864.7140
Lunch for Seniors, aged 60+ and spouse (donations suggested)
- Daily at 12 Noon (call 301-248-5702 for reservations):
Prince George’s County Department of Family Services
6420 Allentown Road, Camp Springs, MD
Home delivery of meals:
Phone: 301.265.8475
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Grace Lutheran Church ELCA
10928 Indian Highway
Fort Washington MD 20744
301.292.2232
Saint John’s Episcopal Church
9801 Livingston Road
Fort Washington MD 20744
301.248.4290
Please join us as we volunteer at the local food pantry each Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Below is a list of the upcoming volunteer times.
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