Nov 13

Nov 13 Elevating Our Own

Nov. 15 Food Giveaway Event To Help Residents Still Struggling With Food Insecurity

With more than 110,000 Prince George’s County residents reliant on SNAP benefits—including 48,000 children—**local leaders say the region is already grappling with chronic food insecurity. Now, with the prolonged federal shutdown straining household budgets and freezing pay for thousands of federal workers, the need for emergency relief has surged to levels county officials describe as “dire.”

That urgency was on full display as Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy, in collaboration with the County’s Office of Homeland Security, announced a countywide Food & Personal Care Items Giveaway scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Camp Springs. The event, launching at 10 a.m. and running while supplies last, aims to provide immediate relief to residents facing stalled paychecks and rising food costs.

For Braveboy, this moment is about more than a single event—it’s about acknowledging the scale of hardship spreading across the region. The Braveboy Administration led an earlier food giveaway and job resources event at the Wayne K. Curry Sports & Learning Center on November 6. Some 2,000 residents participated.

“We have federal workers standing in line for hours just to meet a basic food need,” she said. “As the President of the United States is building a ballroom at the White House, families right here in our county are facing empty refrigerators. This is unacceptable, and we must act.”

County officials say the strain is palpable. Food banks that were already operating near capacity have seen demand skyrocket as federal employees, contractors, and service workers—many of whom live paycheck to paycheck—have gone weeks without income. Parents report skipping meals to ensure their children can eat. Seniors on fixed incomes are turning to food pantries for the first time.

Recognizing the urgency of the moment, Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency on November 8, committing $10 million in statewide support for food banks and nonprofit organizations. The emergency funding is intended to stabilize critical supply chains and expand service capacity as demand accelerates.

“This shutdown is not just a political standoff—it is a human crisis,” Moore said when announcing the emergency declaration. “We cannot allow Maryland families to go hungry.”

The County’s Nov. 15 giveaway is part of the broader “We Elevate Our Own” initiative, designed to ensure residents can access basic necessities during the shutdown. Alongside food distribution, officials are directing residents to online resources and donation portals for those able to support the relief effort.

As the shutdown drags on, county leaders say their message is clear: Prince George’s County will not allow its communities to face this hardship alone. With state support activated, local partnerships mobilized, and volunteers stepping forward, efforts across the region reflect the same belief—in moments of crisis, the community must elevate one another.