With a round of spirited applause and smiles, the newest Priority Partners Cupboards Project self-serve mini-pantry was unveiled at Oak Chapel United Methodist Church last Saturday, May 18. The first to be installed in Montgomery County, the mini-pantry joins the growing network of Priority Partners neighborhood mini-pantries and is yet another triumph in the effort to eliminate food insecurity in our Maryland communities.
The fun, free launch event was attended by Priority Partners’ Executive Director of Finance Jeff Lehrfeld, Montgomery County Director of Food Systems Resilience Heather Bruskin and other county and community leaders. Pastor Sherri Wood-Powe of Oak Chapel spoke briefly, sharing her excitement about the new mini-pantry and how it will provide a much-needed 24/7 resource for the community.
Started in 2021, the Cupboards Project has placed three mini-pantries in Maryland neighborhoods and launched three “Club On The Go” mobile pantries. Working under the motto “Take What You Need, Leave What You Can,” the custom-built mini-pantries provide free healthy food and nutrition resources to remote or underserved neighborhoods. The new installation at Oak Chapel United Methodist brings the total number of free-standing mini-pantries to four, with yet another planned to open at Wicomico Presbyterian Church in Wicomico County in June!
Our sincere gratitude to Michele’s Granola, whose ongoing support of the Cupboards program and generous donations have been helping supply our mini-pantries. A special thanks also to Jazzman Howard Jung and his trio for providing the perfect music and mood for the event.
Find the new mini-pantry at Oak Chapel United Methodist Church, 14500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20906, just a 5-minute walk from the metro bus stop at Longmead Crossing Dr. & Village Gate Dr. Learn more about the Priority Partners Cupboards Project at prioritypartnerscupboards.org.
