Sarah Bloom Raskin, Fall Fundraiser 2024

Monthly Update, September 2025: Don’t Miss Our Fall Fundraiser on September 28th!

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Dear Takoma Park and Silver Spring families and friends,

Please join us along with the Raskin and Bloom family Sunday, September 28th from 3-5pm in Takoma Park at our annual Fall Fundraiser and celebration of all Tommy’s Pantry has accomplished over the past year. Thus far in 2025, Tommy’s Pantry has resumed monthly produce service despite cuts to grant funding while also increasing capacity to serve our community with shelf-stable foods. 

Come celebrate your role in the success of Tommy’s Pantry, and affirm your support to assist us in providing food and essential health and wellness supplies to our neighbors in need. Space is limited, so purchase your tickets today, https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tommys-pantry-2025-fall-fundraiser .

Your contributions help us sustain capacity expansions, continue essential partnerships and add to our growing list of services. Together, we can ensure that local households receive nourishing food as well as connections to other vital resources within our community. We hope to see you on September 28th!

Warmly,


Wendy Kent, President

Upcoming/Ongoing/Recent Events

  • Don’t Miss our Fall Fundraiser! Please join us for this year’s celebration on Sunday, September 28th from 3-5pm in Takoma Park. More details and tickets are available at the following link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tommys-pantry-2025-fall-fundraiser
  • Hat Drive NOW through October 24th; We are collecting new store bought and newly handcrafted winter hats as part of our Hat Drive through October 24th, 2025. Hats should be soft next to 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 locations (or bring to a volunteer session at Tommy’s Pantry):
    • gray bin on the front step at 710 Devonshire Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912 
    • 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)

Fundraising Corner

  • Tommy’s Pantry Takoma Park Fall Fundraiser is Sunday, September 28th in Takoma Park. We hope you will join us to celebrate your role in our Tommy’s Pantry community.  Only with your support can we continue to provide food and essential health and wellness supplies to our neighbors in need. Space is limited, so purchase your tickets today, https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tommys-pantry-2025-fall-fundraiser .
  • 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/tommys-pantry-test/donate/. 
  • In-Kind Contributions Welcome: Please visit our website (tommyspantry.org/tommys-pantry-test/ 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!

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 bringing some extra pasta, cereal, soup, and/or toiletries, etc. you may have at home to help keep our 24-hour pantry stocked. Thank you! 

Volunteer Update

  • 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/10C0544AFA722A5F5CF8-59549755-tommys#/.  Students can earn SSL hours. Ages 11 and up, and please accompany your 11-year-old if it will be their first time volunteering with us.
  • Looking to level up? Requests to attend supervisor trainings and chances to share professional skills can be shared on this Google form.
  • New dates and times to volunteer are typically posted on the 3rd Saturdays of each month. Please check our volunteer Sign Up often for a chance to fill in for cancellations.
  • Weekday volunteers with muscle are still 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 sessions are back on the volunteer menu through the end of the school year. Please email tommyspantry@gmail.com about group volunteering opportunities in Fall and Winter of 2025.

Tommy’s Pantry News & Social Media

Receive Help

  • Family health/wellness and cleaning supplies distribution: Join us on the morning of Saturday, October 4th. 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, October 18th. 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/tommys-pantry-test/ 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 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 .
  • FREE and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) for MoCo students 18 and younger. For the 2025-2026 school year, it is important to complete the Free and Reduced Meals (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 . 

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.

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