On November 20 and 21, the City of Rockville continued its longstanding tradition of supporting community members who need assistance by hosting a food drive. According to event coordinator Sarah Amizel, the event includes a significant number of volunteers and has supported local families for nearly 60 years.
The city hosts two drives each year, one for Thanksgiving and another in December, both of which are aimed at helping residents facing food insecurity. Although Rockville is known as an expensive place to live, Maizel noted that “there’s a lot of poverty in the city, but people wouldn’t know it.”
This year’s goal emphasizes providing equitable access to nutritious food. The event organizer highlighted that the drive goes beyond simply distributing donations. “There’s a difference between equality and equity,” Maizel explained. “We really focus on providing quality food to families who may not be able to access it, including low-fat, low-sodium, and religious-observance options.” Food donations have steadily increased compared to previous years. The effort is supported by the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Latino Youth Development Program, which has 40 student-athletes volunteering annually to earn service hours. Maizel said, “It’s heartwarming to see people come back to help… some of the boys even receive the food we give out, so it’s cool to see them give back.”
With rising grocery prices impacting families across the region, organizers say the drive is more important than ever. One more thing, Maizel noted, was that “[She] feels like the price of groceries goes up every single day. So it’s super important to provide substantial, quality food to families.”
The city will continue collecting and distributing donations through December to ensure Rockville families have access to healthy meals throughout the holiday season.
