Give and Ride Food Drive returns May 25 to 31

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Manna Food Center are calling on residents to support their neighbors in need through the annual "Give and Ride Food Drive." Running from Sunday, May 25 to Saturday, May 31, this community initiative offers an easy way for bus riders to contribute to the fight against hunger. Residents can donate non-perishable food items on all Ride On, extRa, Flex and Flash buses, and in return, their bus fare will be waived.

This food drive, now in its 32^nd year, is a longstanding partnership between MCDOT and Manna Food Center. It's a local tradition that turns daily commutes into opportunities to help fill the shelves of community food banks.

Manna Food Center, the county’s largest food assistance organization, will distribute the collected food through its extensive network of pantries and community programs. Last year, Manna provided more than 4 million pounds of food to more than 60,000 people across Montgomery County.

In addition to bus drop-offs, several community locations will serve as food donation sites, including:

• Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda.   

• Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg.  

• Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring.  

• Isiah "Ike" Leggett Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville.  

• Olney Library, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney.  

• Stella Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville.  

• Wheaton Headquarters Building, 2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton. 

• White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring. 

The most urgently needed items include staples such as instant oatmeal, brown rice,

To find a full list of needed items and donation locations, visit Manna Food Center's website.