Johns Hopkins Health Plans Awards $10,000 Grant to Gaithersburg HELP
Priority Partners CEO Ed Kumian and Emily Luyo, Priority Partners Community Health Advocate, proudly present a grant check for $10,000 to Gaithersburg HELP’s Executive Director of the Food Bank Margo Goldman and Assistant Executive Director Kevin Ramsay.
Johns Hopkins Health Plans is proud to announce our recent grant of $10,000 to Gaithersburg HELP. The grant supports the organization’s Food Pantry Program, which provides nutrition assistance to low-income households at risk for hunger and food insecurity in the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village areas of Maryland.
Our funding will help Gaithersburg HELP purchase enough food to serve 167 households, or 750 individuals, preparing approximately 11,000 nutritious meals.
Johns Hopkins Health Plans and Gaithersburg HELP share a common commitment to improve community access to healthy foods and address the social determinants that impact community health, such as income level and food security. With this grant, Johns Hopkins Health Plans will help support the purchase and distribution of nutritious foods to families in need.
A look at the need
- The Food Pantry Program serves low- and moderate-income families and individuals, including seniors, people with disabilities and others who are historically underserved.
- Nearly two-thirds of clients are Spanish-speaking, and Gaithersburg HELP operates a dedicated Spanish language phone line staffed by bilingual volunteers.
- Clients receive 3 to 5 days of food based on family size, with no forms or waiting periods required.
The pantry provides fresh produce, milk, eggs and cheese; canned fruits and vegetables; whole grains, rice and pasta; frozen meats; and baby food and formula. This allows families to prepare well-balanced, healthy meals for all household members.
Johns Hopkins Health Plans is honored to provide this grant in support of Gaithersburg HELP and its mission to provide essential nutrition assistance to those facing food insecurity in our communities.
Learn more about our many community grants.