Community Corner

Midcounty United Ministries Food Bank Sees High Demand in Summer

Group hopes to move towards healthier food.

On the second level of the , a small room has doubled as a food bank pantry for many years. This summer, Midcounty Ministries Food Bank is seeing high demand as students are out of school, at the same time they are trying to create a pantry that is healthier for all who stop by.

"We saw a change as soon as school got out," Diane Schroeder, director, said referring to the increased need at the food bank when regular breakfast and lunch, often provided by the school system, is not available. MUM is seeing an average of 18 to 20 people a day at their Reedie Drive location.

While becoming a member of the Capital Area Food Bank has helped Midcounty United Ministries deal with the summer demand (also the free storage that Acorn Storage in Kensington provides), this year has still be challenging. In fiscal year 2011 (June 10, 2010 to July 1, 2011), they gave away 2720 bags of food.

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"And that's with us being open only three days a week," Schroeder said. 

MUM is in specific need of cereal (because it is costly and also in high demand), low-sodium canned vegetables and in general, healthy non-perishable food.

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