County Leaders Battle Food Insecurity as Families Face Job Losses and Holiday Fears

In Prince George’s County, the holiday season of 2025 arrives with a complicated mix of gratitude, anxiety, and resilience. Spiraling job losses, budget cuts, and growing fears around immigration detention and deportation have reshaped everyday life for thousands of residents. More than 110,000 county residents already rely on SNAP benefits, including 48,000 children—numbers that continue to rise as federal furloughs, local layoffs, and stalled hiring leave families struggling to meet basic needs.

Yet amid the uncertainty, county leaders have emerged as steady, visible forces of compassion, mobilizing a countywide holiday network of free food distributions, emergency supports, and community-anchored relief programs. From District 2 to District 9, from Oxon Hill to Chillum, they have approached this season with a unified message: No family in Prince George’s County should face hunger alone.

The Economic Storm Behind the Giving

The fall of 2025 hit the county with economic lows not seen since the Great Recession. Local businesses contracted, major employers executed rounds of layoffs, and federal agencies—deeply tied to Prince George’s workforce—initiated DOGE-related furloughs. In response, County Executive Aisha Braveboy’s administration launched a targeted anti-hunger and jobs-stability push between September and December 2025. Her initiatives supported food banks facing historic demand and paired workforce providers with nonprofits to help residents navigate unemployment, job transitions, and emergency needs.

The situation escalated dramatically in October, when federal worker furloughs led to hours-long lines at community food sites. At one point, as residents waited in the cold for staples, county officials described the moment starkly: while national leaders planned high-profile celebrations, everyday people were struggling to secure groceries.

Recognizing the urgency, Council Chair Edward Burroughs III created the District 8 Federal Worker Support Fund, dedicating $1 million to provide one-time relief to residents impacted by furloughs and layoffs. “Our federal employees and contractors are the backbone of this region,” he wrote in a public message announcing the fund. “Together, we stand with you during this difficult time, because when you serve our nation, your community should serve you.”

This fund would become one of the first major financial responses to the cascading economic impact felt countywide—particularly among families already vulnerable to food insecurity.

County Leaders Step Up: A Season of Food Distributions

If the fall of 2025 was defined by crisis, it was equally defined by compassion. Nearly every member of the Prince George’s County Council launched or expanded free Thanksgiving food distributions to meet the rising need.

The Braveboy Administration’s Fall 2025 Response

Between September and December 2025, County Executive Aisha Braveboy deployed a multi-front anti-hunger and stability initiative aimed at protecting families during the county’s most precarious economic season in years.

Her administration worked closely with:

Local food banks overwhelmed by demand
Community organizations facing surges of immigrant families seeking legal and financial assistance
Nonprofits responding to fears of deportation and detention
Workforce providers supporting residents displaced from jobs

Braveboy prioritized programs that could respond rapidly, including:

Supplemental emergency food shipments
County-supported pop-up distribution sites
Partnerships with houses of worship
Expanded access to family stabilization services
Funds to support federal workers impacted by DOGE furloughs

Her administration also played a coordinating role, helping council members and community partners scale their holiday food events to meet historic demand. This collaboration helped ensure that no single neighborhood—Chillum, Riverdale Park, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Hyattsville, or Landover—faced the crisis alone.

Sydney Harrison: District 9’s Contactless Community Shield

Council Member Sydney J. Harrison partnered with Project Give Back and the Alpha Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to deliver the District 9 Thanksgiving Food Box Giveaway. Held on November 22 at Surrattsville High School, the event provided contactless distribution with boxes placed directly into residents’ trunks.

As lines wrapped around the school, Harrison’s team moved swiftly—one box per vehicle, first come, first served—serving families hit hard by the downturn. For many, these boxes filled the gap left by unemployment, rising food costs, and shrinking household budgets.

Calvin S. Hawkins: Hope at Eastover

At-Large Council Member Calvin S. Hawkins hosted his Thanksgiving Food Drive at Oxon Hill’s Eastover Shopping Center, supported by DEO Community Development Corporation and county police. The event offered baskets, music, refreshments, volunteer opportunities, and—most importantly—a chance for the community to uplift one another.

“Let’s give thanks by giving back,” Hawkins’ team urged. For residents experiencing job loss or fearing more cuts to come, the baskets did more than provide nourishment—they restored dignity.

Jolene Ivey: Meeting the Crisis Head-On

Council Member Jolene Ivey expanded her efforts earlier than most. On October 18, she partnered with The Storehouse for a free grocery box distribution in Chillum, intentionally addressing the growing insecurity brought on by the federal shutdown and the “entirely avoidable crisis” it created.

“I hope this food distribution can provide a little relief during this difficult time,” Ivey said. She also released a resource list for residents affected by the shutdown, reflecting her proactive approach as economic anxiety deepened.

Eric Olson and Partners: “Absolutely Crushed It”

Council Member Eric Olson joined volunteers, the University of Maryland Alumni Association, CCSITalks, and the Town of Riverdale Park to deliver fresh produce and poultry sourced from Albright Farms. Their mission: fight food insecurity, one grateful household at a time.

Their event was emblematic of a region refusing to allow vulnerable neighbors to fall through the cracks.

Shayla Adams-Stafford: District 5 Shows Up Early

In Landover, Councilwoman Shayla Adams-Stafford hosted a Thanksgiving Food Distribution at First Baptist Church of Highland Park on November 22—so popular that lines often formed before sunrise.

Her early-morning distribution ensured working families and caregivers could access support before heading to weekend jobs or responsibilities.

Wanika Fisher: A District 2 Lifeline

Council Member Wanika Fisher, Esq., partnered with District 1’s CAC and county police to deliver a contactless District 2 Thanksgiving Food Giveaway in Hyattsville. Registration was required, and the event served families from some of the county’s most vulnerable ZIP codes.

More Than Meals: A County Reaffirms Its Identity

While the boxes distributed this season contained staples—turkeys, fresh produce, canned goods—they also carried something harder to quantify: the promise that Prince George’s County is at its strongest when standing together.

Families facing job losses found relief. Immigrant residents experiencing fear felt community support. Federal employees—so vital to the county’s economy—discovered that their county had their backs.

And at every food site, volunteers spoke of the same themes: gratitude, resilience, and a fierce commitment to one another.

As Council Member Olson noted in his message of thanks, their work “absolutely crushed it”—not because of the numbers served, but because the spirit behind the service never faltered.

A Holiday Season Defined by Hope

This year, the holiday season in Prince George’s County is not defined by hardship, even though hardship exists. It is defined by the leaders, organizations, volunteers, and neighbors who refused to let economic despair turn into hopelessness.

From Surrattsville High School to Eastover, from The Storehouse to Landover’s churches, families have felt the impact of a county that cares—and of public servants determined to show that caring in actions, not words.

As the Braveboy Administration and County Council look ahead to 2026, one truth remains clear: Prince George’s County may face storms, but it also knows how to shelter its people.

And this holiday season, that shelter takes the form of open trunks, warm meals, long volunteer hours, and a shared belief in community—one box, one family, one act of kindness at a time.