September 2026 Newsletter: Don’t Miss Our Fall Fundraiser on September 27th! 

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Jamie Raskin, Sarah Bloom Raskin, Joe Newman and Gwen Piazza at the 2025 Fall Fundraiser event.

Dear Takoma Park and Silver Spring families and friends,

There’s so much happening at Tommy’s Pantry in September!

Next Sunday, September 27th we hope you can join us and Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin, from 4-6pm in Takoma Park at our annual Fall Fundraiser. Space is limited, but tickets are still available at https://tommyspantry.org/2026-fall-fundraiser. 

At the fundraiser, we will introduce our three newest Board members, Madeline Sahagun (Secretary), Omar Marroquin and Jose Luis Campos. I hope you will take advantage of the fundraiser to help me welcome them to the Board and our community.

I am also happy to announce a very generous donation from the Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund for People and Animals. As they have every year, the Memorial Fund supports the work of Tommy’s Pantry where Tommy’s spirit lives on through our mission, where neighbors come together to uplift one another and ensure the preservation of human dignity.

On a more serious note, MCPS’s Department of Food and Nutrition Service is asking for help because they are seeing a decline in FARMS (Free and Reduced-Price Meals) applications compared with the number submitted at this time last year. While FARMS applications are accepted throughout the year, we want to ensure we are doing everything possible to reach families before their prior-year eligibility expires on Wednesday, October 7.

Tommy’s Pantry is working to help spread the word but, we ask that you share this information through any relevant newsletters, email lists, social media, websites, text messaging, or other communications you may have.

As always, your support helps 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 27th!

Warmly,

Wendy Kent

Board President

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Mark Hines is a familiar face at Tommy’s Pantry distributions, helping direct traffic and making sure everything runs smoothly.

If you’ve been through a Tommy’s Pantry distribution, chances are you’ve seen Mark Hines keeping the cars moving and greeting participants along the way. Mark first volunteered with Tommy’s Pantry in 2022/2023, joining his wife and son to pack boxes with their school group. He soon “found a home with traffic,” a role he values for its mix of service, safety, and connection with the community.

For Mark, volunteering is about something bigger. “I look at my time with Tommy’s as a direct way to serve the community, show care and support to my neighbors, and demonstrate goodwill and solidarity to others when they may need to see it most.” He also treasures the relationships he’s built with participants and fellow volunteers. 

His advice to anyone considering volunteering? “Please join us.” Mark says new volunteers will find a welcoming, engaging group from board members to volunteers ready to help them get comfortable and oriented. He’s always happy to have someone shadow the traffic crew!

A retired federal law enforcement officer who now works in corporate investigations, Mark enjoys swimming, fishing, reading, movies, traveling, and following England rugby. Most of all, he loves spending time with his wife and three sons and is looking forward to becoming a grandfather for the first time this spring!

Thank you, Mark, for keeping us moving and for bringing such care and commitment to Tommy’s Pantry.

What’s Happening at Tommy’s Pantry

  • Don’t Miss our Fall Fundraiser! Please join us for this year’s celebration on Sunday, September 27th from 4-6pm in Takoma Park. Tickets are now available — reserve yours today!
  • Thank you to Pepco and the EmPower Maryland Program for donating energy-saving kits to Tommy’s Pantry! These practical items will help families reduce energy and potentially lower utility costs. We’re grateful for partnerships that allow us to provide resources that support our neighbors beyond food assistance.
  • 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 Update

  • Shout out to our traffic control volunteers! A big thank you to Adam Bodner, Hannah Deutsch, Carter Dougherty, Elaine Feister, Benjamin Frey, Lori Giblin, Mark Hines, Gina Lambright, Carole Lee, Jennifer Lukas, Deborah Nelson, Andy Saindon, and Kevin Truitte for helping keep our recent distributions safe, organized, and moving smoothly. 
  • 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

  • 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, October 3rd. 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, October 17th. 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

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.

  • 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 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 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!

Stay Connected – Social Media & News

Thank you for your continued support!

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 families from the East Silver Spring neighborhood.

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