Dear Takoma Park and Silver Spring families and friends,
First, I’d like to thank everyone for a very successful Fall Fundraiser! These funds go directly to the people we serve in the form of fresh produce, shelf-stable food, and essential health and wellness items every month. With your help, we have never had nor do we expect to have an interruption in service.
At the Fall Fundraiser, we launched a resource center on our website. As you know, Tommy’s Pantry is 100% volunteer-run. We’re asking people to volunteer their talents and professional skills.
If you’re a communications expert, can help with research and grant writing, if you speak and/or can translate Spanish, Amharic, Dari, or Pashtu, you’re a lawyer with some extra time to give, you love spreadsheets and numbers, or you have a special talent for social media – please sign up.
When you share your information, you are in no way signing up for a specific task. We will call on you if and when we need that special talent you possess at which time you can say “yes” or “no, not at this time.”
We’re also in urgent need of supervisors for our packing sessions. Pretty simple – watch over and gently guide volunteers as they pack boxes. Click here to visit our Resource Center and tell us a bit about yourself and your potential to help with specific projects.
These are trying times for our community, but with your commitment to standing for our common humanity, our participants experience kindness, empathy, and hope. All of us at Tommy’s Pantry thank you for your unwavering support, whether by volunteering your time, making a donation when you can, or reading this newsletter to stay informed.
Warmly,
Wendy Kent, President
Upcoming/Ongoing Events
- Hat Drive NOW through October 24th; We are collecting new and newly handcrafted winter hats as part of our Hat Drive. Hats should be soft and machine-washable is preferred. Students can earn 4 SSL hours for each hat they contribute. Drop-off locations (or bring to your volunteer session at Tommy’s Pantry):
- Gray bin on the front step at 710 Devonshire Ave, Takoma Park, MD 2091
- Gray bin on the front step at 14 Darwin Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912 (walking distance from Takoma Park elementary and middle schools & Maple Ave Community Center)
Hats will be distributed in late October or early November. Please reach out to tommyspantry@gmail.com with any questions.
Our On-Site Little Free Pantry Needs Some Love
- Our Little Free Pantry at 630 Silver Spring Ave is heavily used and rapidly depleted. Please consider donating pasta, cereal, soup, and/or toiletries to keep our pantry stocked.
Fundraising Corner
- Fall Fundraiser Success! Thank you to everyone who helped make the Tommy’s Pantry Fall Fundraiser a great success. You can see photos from the event on our website. Your outpouring of support will help ensure Tommy’s Pantry can continue to provide essential food and wellness supplies into 2026 to our neighbors who rely on us. If you would still like to help meet our goals and contribute, it’s not too late.
- Small Fundraising Events like lemonade stands and concerts are a great way to support Tommy’s Pantry. Please reach out to Paula at tommyspantry@gmail.com to get set up with an event-specific QR code for easy donating and to receive more information.
- Donations Always Accepted: Your financial support is crucial to keeping food and wellness boxes flowing into the hands of those in need, https://tommyspantry.org/donate/.
- In-Kind Contributions Welcome: Please visit our website (tommyspantry.org) to donate financially or consider making an online purchase of items from our Amazon wish list. Visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/I7P0QJ2992AF?ref_=wl_share to purchase high-need and hard-to-buy-in-bulk wellness items. Please choose “Mark Hines” from your shipping address options to have supplies mailed directly to our In-Kind Donation Drive Coordinator, and please include a gift receipt so we can thank you for your contribution. Thank you!
Volunteer Update
- Looking to contribute professional skills? We need your professional skills! Volunteers are invited to share their skills in areas such as legal, outreach, communications, website design, and more, and/or train as a supervisor for our packing or distribution events. Please let us know how you can help: HERE
- New volunteer opportunities have been added to our volunteer Sign Up! To join us in alleviating food insecurity in our community, visit the Tommy’s Pantry Sign Up page at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4eaca72ea1fe3-tommys#/. Students can earn SSL hours. Ages 11 and up, please accompany your 11-year-old if it’s their first time volunteering.
- New dates and times to volunteer are posted on the 3rd Saturdays of each month. If dates you are interested in are full, please check our volunteer Sign Up for a chance to fill in for cancellations.
- Weekday volunteers are needed! If you are available on some Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Fridays, we could use your help unloading deliveries and picking up our wellness supplies. Please visit our volunteer Sign Up for more info.
- Group volunteer sessions are offered through the end of the school year, and are booked 1-2 months in advance. Please email tommyspantry@gmail.com about winter group opportunities
Tommy’s Pantry News & Social Media
- Stay connected with us on social media! You can follow us on Instagram (@tommyspantrytkpk), and like our Tommy’s Pantry Facebook page.
- For more information, photos from our packing and distribution events, and Spanish, Pashto, and Amharic translations of this newsletter, visit the News page on our website.
- Want to get this newsletter sent to your inbox? Email tommyspantry@gmail.com to subscribe.
Receive Help
- Family health/wellness and cleaning supplies distribution: Join us on the morning of Saturday, November 1st. Boxes are distributed in order of arrival while supplies last. The drive-up distribution location is at the back of Church of the Ascension, across the street from East Silver Spring Elementary (630 Silver Spring Ave, Silver Spring, MD). If you plan to walk up, please email tommyspantry@gmail.com in advance.
- Shelf-stable food distribution: Food boxes will be offered on the morning of Saturday, November 15th. Boxes are distributed in order of arrival while supplies last. The drive-up distribution location is at the back of Church of the Ascension, across the street from East Silver Spring Elementary (630 Silver Spring Ave, Silver Spring, MD). If you plan to walk up, please email tommyspantry@gmail.com in advance.
- Know Your Rights: Please visit the Know Your Rights page at tommyspantry.org for multilingual resources regarding your rights and safety planning to protect yourselves and loved ones.
- FREE Ride On bus rates: $0 fares are now in effect for all passengers on all Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex, and Flash Buses in Montgomery County. For information, visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-transit/fares/ .
- 50% off WMATA fares: WMATA’s Metro Lift program offers 50% off Metrobus and Metrorail trips for DC, Maryland, and Virginia customers enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). For more information in multiple languages, and to enroll, visit https://www.wmata.com/fares/Reduced-Fare-Programs/MetroLift/index.cfm .
- FREE and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) for MoCo students 18 and younger. For the 2025-2026 school year, complete the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) form if you have previously, or believe you qualify for free or reduced meals. If your family qualifies for any level of FARMS support, all meals are free. Only 1 application is required per household. Apply online at www.MySchoolApps.com.
Thank you for your continued support of this vital community initiative.
Wendy Kent
Tommy’s Pantry President
Sarah Goupell
Tommy’s Pantry Vice President
Hannah Deutsch
Tommy’s Pantry Treasurer
Sasha Johnson
Tommy’s Pantry Secretary
Paula Kowalczuk
Tommy’s Pantry Board Member, Chair of Fundraising Committee
Hannah Raskin
Tommy’s Pantry Board Member
Adrienne Tilton
Tommy’s Pantry Board Member
Joe Newman
Tommy’s Pantry Student Board Member
Tommy’s Pantry collaborates with PTA leaders, school counselors, administration and ESOL teachers from each of our schools, Blair school counselors, the City of Takoma Park, and county social workers. With the help of all of these people and organizations, we have quick and direct contact with families who need help. Rest assured that we are reaching far into the community – all across Takoma Park and the folks from the East Silver Spring neighborhood.
newsletter edited by Madeline Sahagun
