Tommy’s Pantry spreading the spirit of giving at the Alternative Gift Fair.

Tommy’s Pantry December 2025 Update: Season of Giving – Nourishing Our Community Together

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Dear Takoma Park and Silver Spring families and friends,

Happy Holidays! I, and the rest of the Tommy’s Pantry Board, are truly humbled by the incredible generosity of our community during this giving season. Thanks to your unprecedented contributions in November, we were able to provide $20 grocery gift cards for all of our 350 Thanksgiving food boxes. In fact, your donations were so generous, we were able to  provide $20 grocery gift cards for 350 food boxes again at the distribution today. Thank you so much for supporting your neighbors to make sure their holidays are merry! 

Haven’t donated yet? There’s still time! More than half of Tommy’s Pantry’s operating funds are donated in just 2 days, December 30 and 31. Please join us in alleviating local food insecurity in 2026 by making a tax-deductible year-end gift now. Thank you for your end-of-year support & happy holidays!

Sincerely,

Wendy Kent, President

Fundraising Corner

Upcoming/Ongoing Events

  • Toiletries Drive in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: From January 5th through January 23rd, we will be collecting toothpaste (4-oz or larger), men’s and women’s deodorant (full-size), and maxi pads (24-ct or larger packs please) for local households in need in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Donate virtually via: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/I7P0QJ2992AF?ref_=wl_share (choose “Mark Hines”, our In-Kind Donation Drive Coordinator, from your shipping address options). Please check the News page of our website for updates about this community drive celebrating dignity and solidarity. Thank you so much for your participation! 

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

Volunteer Update

  • NEW Sign Up Genius page & NEW Volunteer Coordinator!: A wholehearted welcome to our new Volunteer Coordinator, Megan Graves! Megan is a seasoned Tommy’s Pantry Supervisor who has answered our call to Level Up, and is looking forward to serving as your go-to for all things volunteer in the new year. As part of the transition, Megan has switched us over to a New Sign Up Genius page at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0544AFA722A5F5CF8-59549755-tommys#/. If you accidentally click the old link, you will see instructions to go to the new page. Please sign up to join us in alleviating food insecurity in our community. Students can earn SSL hours. Ages 11 and up, please accompany your 11-year-old if it’s their first time volunteering.
  • Volunteer shoutout to our recent groups/individuals: Takoma Academy Girls’ Basketball, First UCC DC & Loren Days’ Alumni Group. Thank you for all your help! 
  • 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.
  • Extra help needed! If you have professional skills you’re willing to share or are interested in training to become a Tommy’s Pantry packing or distribution supervisor, please let us know via our online Resource Center.
  • 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

Receive Help

  • Family health/wellness and cleaning supplies distribution: Join us on the morning of Saturday, January 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 (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, January 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 (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

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