The City of Gaithersburg has doubled food service funding to three providers serving City residents during these uncertain times. Manna, Community Hope Center, and Gaithersburg Help will each be awarded $30,000 to provide urgent food and nutrition assistance to meet the critical needs of Gaithersburg residents. These funds are in addition to the $31,200 a year that each entity currently receives.

“We recognize that the suspension of SNAP benefits created serious challenges for our residents who depend on them for essential nutrition,” said Mayor Jud Ashman. “Although the current government shutdown has ended, we remain committed to supporting our community by providing these grants to help meet the increased need for food and nutritional assistance we’re seeing in our community.”

The federal government operated on a reduced basis without overall budget authority to function after Congress failed to pass new funding bills in October. Due to the lack of budget authority to function, many federal operations and programs had been halted, including SNAP, a federal program that provides food benefits to families. Congress and the Administration’s recent action funds the government only through January 30, 2026, leaving future funding uncertain.

“While the government shutdown has ended, we know it will take time for people to recover from the lapse in funding of essential benefits,” said City Manager Tanisha Briley. “This additional funding is imperative so that our local providers can continue to meet the needs of our residents.”

All three providers, Manna, Community Hope Center, and Gaithersburg Help, have reported an increase in need by the community. With these emergency funds, the providers will deliver perishable, nonperishable, and prepared foods, including packaging, to address immediate shortfalls based on benefit delays and will continue, if needed, to address a potential total loss of any SNAP benefits.

For more information, please contact Community Services at 301-258-6395 or email communityservices@gaithersburgmd.gov.