October 2026 Newsletter: Fall Fundraiser Success!

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Sarah Bloom Raskin and  Jamie Raskin at the 2026 Fall Fundraiser.

Dear Tommy’s Pantry families and friends,

First, thank you to everyone who helped make our Fall Fundraiser such a wonderful success. Whether you attended, donated, volunteered, or supported us from afar, your generosity helps Tommy’s Pantry continue providing fresh produce, shelf-stable food, and essential health and wellness items to families in our community.

This month, we hosted our Tommy’s Pantry Resource Fair. We know that food insecurity rarely exists in isolation. Families may also be navigating healthcare needs, legal questions, accessing public benefits, or simply trying to understand what resources are available to them. Our Resource Fair brought together 16 local organizations in one place so community members can connect directly with services and information that can help. 

Events like the Resource Fair reflect what Tommy’s Pantry is all about, neighbors helping neighbors, and ensuring that people feel supported, connected, and treated with dignity. None of this would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of our volunteers, donors, partners, and community.

Thank you for continuing to stand with Tommy’s Pantry and the families we serve. 

Warmly,

Wendy Kent, President

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Jane Enright, one of the creative forces behind Tommy’s Pantry.

We’re delighted to introduce Jane Enright as our October Volunteer Spotlight! Jane is a member of Tommy’s Pantry Communications Committee who has been generously sharing her creativity and professional design skills with us. 

If you haven’t met Jane, you’ve probably already seen her work! Jane has helped give this very newsletter a fresh look, including designing our newsletter banners, along with other graphics and visual materials that help Tommy’s Pantry tell its story.

After retiring from a career as an art director, Jane knew she wanted to find a meaningful way to give back. She reached out to her neighbor, Tommy’s Pantry’s Board President, Wendy Kent, to see whether we could use help with graphics or communications. Tommy’s Pantry’s local mission drew her in, but the story behind its namesake also resonated deeply with her.

Since joining the team, Jane has enjoyed putting her professional skills to work for a new purpose. “It’s been a real pleasure to create visual communications that help spread the word about Tommy’s Pantry,” she says. As an added bonus, volunteering gives her a chance to keep doing what she loves: “I also get to keep my design skills up, even in retirement.”

One thing that especially struck Jane when she began volunteering was our tagline: “Where human dignity is the guiding principle.”“I think the importance placed on dignity when it comes to food insecurity and distribution is vital,” Jane says. “The folks at Tommy’s seem to really take this to heart in everything they do.” 

Jane’s contributions are also a wonderful reminder that there are many ways to volunteer. Helping doesn’t always mean packing boxes or working at a distribution. Sometimes the skills our community needs are the ones we already have. “Perhaps you have web development skills, or nonprofit experience, or a big truck that could pick up food to be packed up, you never know.” Her advice? Reach out and see if what you have to offer matches a need.

Creativity doesn’t stop for Jane when her volunteer work is done. Outside of Tommy’s Pantry, she enjoys embroidery, sewing, fine art, and crafting and, of course, finding ways to lure her adult children home for visits. Her current creative obsession? Planning a group Halloween costume as Mrs. Peacock from Clue.

We’re so grateful to Jane for sharing her time, talents, and creativity and for showing us that volunteering can take many forms. 

What’s Happening at Tommy’s Pantry

Welcome to our new Board Members! Tommy’s Pantry is delighted to welcome Madeline Sahagun, Jose Luiz Campos and Omar Marroquin to our Board of Directors. Each brings a unique combination of professional experience, community connection, and commitment to service that will strengthen our work as Tommy’s Pantry continues to grow. We’re excited to introduce them to our community!

Madeline Sahagun joined Tommy’s Pantry as Secretary on the Board of Directors in May. A global food security expert and humanitarian leader, Madeline has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of hunger, displacement, emergency response, economic empowerment, and inclusion. She has worked with international humanitarian organizations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, helping shape strategies, programs and policies in response to some of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises. 

After many years working internationally, Madeline is especially excited to bring her global experience closer to home and support Tommy’s Pantry’s efforts to address food insecurity and promote more equitable access to food in her own community. She lives locally with her husband, daughter, and golden retriever. When she’s not working as a Global Food Security Advisor or volunteering, you’ll likely find her with a good book or happily browsing the shelves of a local bookstore or library.

Jose Luis Campos joined Tommy’s Pantry’s Board of Directors in September after attending distributions to help with service referrals for nearly two years. A bilingual case worker, community advocate, and licensed Health and Sickness Insurance Producer in Maryland, Jose Luis brings extensive experience helping individuals and families access food assistance programs, public benefits, housing, health care, and other essential services.

Through his work with Catholic Charities, Jose Luis connects individuals and families with critical resources while fostering strong partnerships with community organizations and service providers.

Deeply connected to the community Tommy’s Pantry serves, Jose Luis is committed to ensuring that the voices and needs of local families help guide the organization’s work. He is passionate about strengthening partnerships, expanding access to essential resources, and contributing to the continued growth of Tommy’s Pantry’s reach and impact.

Omar Marroquin joined Tommy’s Pantry’s Board of Directors in September. A chef, food systems professional, and community organizer, Omar brings extensive experience in culinary leadership, community engagement, and food access. He currently serves as Farmers Market Program Manager with Crossroads Community Food Network and has deep roots in the DC area. 

Having experienced firsthand the important role community organizations played in supporting his own family growing up, Omar is passionate about giving back and reducing food insecurity and inequity in his community. He is especially committed to building stronger partnerships among local organizations to expand their collective impact. Omar lives locally with his wife and son.

  • Welcoming Our New Partner Zen Renovations! We are excited to welcome Zen Renovations as a new community partner! We’re grateful for their generous donation and support of our work serving local families. Partnerships like this strengthen our community and help us continue showing up for our neighbors. Thank you, Zen Renovations!
  • Hat Drive NOW through October 23rd! We will be collecting new store bought and newly handcrafted winter hats as part of our Hat Drive through October 23rd. Hats should be soft next to the skin, machine-washable preferred. Students can earn 4 SSL hours for each contribution of a hat they have made. Hats will be distributed to our recipients in November. Please reach out to tommyspantry@gmail.com with any questions & thank you for your generosity! Drop-off location (or bring to a volunteer session at Tommy’s Pantry): labeled bin at 10 Elwyn Court, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Volunteer Updates

  • Shout out to our Volunteers! Special thanks to the World Explorers Homeschool Co-op and Grace Yoga for assisting with shelf-stable packing this month.
  • To register for an upcoming volunteer opportunity, please visit our sign up page. Available dates are updated monthly. SSL hours are available for students. 
  • Planning a group activity? Consider Tommy’s Pantry. We schedule group volunteer sessions 1-2 months in advance. Email us at tommyspantry@gmail.com to choose a date.

Fundraising Corner

   Theo and Audie turned their neighborhood yard sale into a fundraiser.

Neighbors Supporting Neighbors 

A big thank you to Theo Emery and Audie Cornish for turning their neighborhood yard sale into a fundraiser for Tommy’s Pantry. Instead of paying for their finds, shoppers were invited to scan a QR code and donate directly to Tommy’s Pantry. What a creative and simple way to bring neighbors together while supporting our community!

  • Inspired to host your own fundraiser? Lemonade stands, yard sales, concerts, and other small events are a great way to support our mission. Reach out to Paula at tommyspantry@gmail.com to get an event-specific QR code and more information.
  • Become a Monthly Donor – Please consider Monthly Giving. It’s not just that monthly gifts make a big monetary impact (though they do!), but for Tommy’s Pantry especially, monthly gifts help with planning and budgeting in a way that has a direct impact on our income stream making it easier for us to know how much money we can count on each month. Make a Donation here.
  • Donations Always Accepted – Tommy’s Pantry is 100% volunteer run, and our budget can always use a boost. Your financial support is crucial to keeping food and wellness boxes flowing into the hands of those in need, visit https://tommyspantry.org/donate/.

Receive Assistance with Food & Wellness Items

  • Family health/wellness and cleaning supplies distribution: Join us on the morning of Saturday, November 7 . 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 School (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 21. 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 School (630 Silver Spring Ave, Silver Spring, MD). If you plan to walk up, please email tommyspantry@gmail.com in advance.

Community Resources & Your Rights

  • 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. 
  • Apply online for FREE and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) for MoCo students 18 and younger today! For the 2026-2027 school year, it is important to complete the FARMS form if you have previously, or believe you will 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.
  • 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 more 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.

Our On-Site Little 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.

Stay Connected – Social Media & News

Thank you for your continued support on this vital community initiative.

Tommy’s Pantry collaborates with PTA leaders, school counselors, administration and ESOL teachers from each of our schools, Blair High 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 East Silver Spring neighborhoods.

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