Connection. Community. Compassion.

Connection. It’s what makes the efforts to end food insecurity in Western Upper Montgomery County succeed - connections with farms, with neighbors, with local businesses, and with each other. Buddhist Relief’s partnerships with WUMCO Help and the Poolesville Little Free Pantry are not only supported by each of our respective donors, but also county efforts such as Community Food Rescue through Manna, which connects farmers and businesses with food pantries and soup kitchens. 

Sometimes these farm and business donations come at the last minute, and we work together to make sure the food is received. Sarah Defnet, co-coordinator of the Poolesville Little Free Pantry, is passionate about these connections. She said, “If you have access to food, and others do not, it is your obligation to make the time to get the food and bring it to those who don’t have the food. And if you say no to that food, it’s going to go somewhere else, and it won’t come into your community.” 

On a recent Wednesday, Buddhist Relief delivered 740 pounds of fresh produce, dairy items, and pantry items to the Poolesville Little Free Pantry. The Pantry is a resource for neighbors to “take what you need, leave what you can”, and is supplemented by donations from the Poolesville Presbyterian Church, who operate the pantry, from Buddhist Relief, and from town residents. The pantry is replenished twice a day and is available 24/7.

We then delivered 380 pounds of fresh produce, cheese, and eggs to WUMCO Help. This was for the last week of the summer lunch program, which provided lunch ingredients for 60-70 children each week during the summer months, who all live far from the nearest MCPS school lunch program. Buddhist Relief’s donations also supplement the weekly produce distribution, which benefits 40 - 50 families each week. 

Connections. Community. Caring for one another.