Volunteers from the remarkable "So What Else" organization are dedicated to making a difference. They selflessly distribute food to those in need, as seen in the image of them passing out provisions in Montgomery County, Maryland (WTOP/Linh Bui). This dedicated group is fighting food insecurity across the D.C. region through their food distribution sites and after-school programs.

"Helping Families Thrive This Thanksgiving with So What Else"

Food Bank's Urgent Need

In Montgomery County, Maryland, a food bank is facing a significant challenge. With Thanksgiving approaching, they are striving to provide for tens of thousands of families. "So What Else," based in Bethesda, is at the forefront of this effort. Deputy Director May Nash highlights that the need is continuously growing, partly due to inflation and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It's astonishing to think that people we know from school or our neighborhoods are in such dire straits. Nash shared with WTOP, "It's hard to imagine that people that go to school with you, people that live in your neighborhood, for different circumstances, are very much in need."The organization has set a goal to supply 24,000 households with a Thanksgiving meal and is urgently seeking donations. Protein items like turkey, ham, or chicken are particularly in demand. For just $24, you can sponsor a family and ensure they have a holiday meal. Nash emphasized, "Families are really struggling to put a meal on the table. This Thanksgiving, I think we should think about others and try to give back."

Increased Demand and New Faces

Deputy Director for Hunger Relief Chris Yonushonis reports that demand at some of the organization's distribution sites has surged by 40% over the past year. Additionally, up to 20% of the people seeking help at these sites are doing so for the first time. Recently at their Gaithersburg location, Yonushonis observed, "People were driving from Howard County, Fairfax County, Frederick, to come to that distribution, which really shows the need because that's a long trip to get 40 pounds of food."

Volunteer Opportunities

If you can't donate money or food, there are still ways to help. So What Else will have extended hours leading up to Thanksgiving, inviting volunteers to assist in distributing food. Yonushonis shared stories of those in desperate need, saying, "Someone will call and ask for food and say they don't want to keep shoplifting to feed their family, or they only have three apples in their house. We're getting a lot of stories of desperate needs." When families receive their free groceries, Yonushonis noted, "You can see the relief and happiness in their eyes. It's a good feeling to help people."To learn more about So What Else and how you can contribute, visit their website. Sign up here to get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox.© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.