In April of 2012, MCMF held its 2012 annual food drive to benefit the needy. Similar to past years, MCMF’s goal this year was to collect as much as possible while at the same time trying to maintain a level of efficiency in the collection process. This year, in one weekend (April 14 and 15), MCMF was able to collect approximately 10,000 pounds of food with more still trickling in from donors across the county.
Through MCMF’s close partnership with Giant Foods and Manna Food Center in assuring a successful one weekend collection, for the first time our volunteers this year were able to be inside the Giant stores engaging with the customers as they walked in the stores and asking for a donation of non-perishable items. This made the volunteers’ collection efforts more fruitful in the 10 Giant supermarkets that they were stationed throughout the county.
In addition, MCMF also incorporated some stationary drop-off points and mosques around the county where members of the community could go and drop off donated food items. The lessons learned from this year’s food drive and the stronger partnerships with Manna Food Center and Giant Food will benefit the community at-large.
On May 06, 2012, MCMF held its annual community cookout at Black Hill Regional Park with more than 350 people attending. As the culminating event for MCMF’s 2012 Food Drive, this gathering was designed to thank the volunteers whose energy and efforts were essential to the food drive and all of MCMF’s work. In presenting Giant Food and Manna Food’s “2012 Exceptional Partner Award”, Jim Perkins, Regional Director with Giant Foods said “MCMF’s efforts in this food drive will go a long way in helping families in need. All of the volunteers who participated in this effort ought to be congratulated.”
MCMF was honored to have County Executive Ike Leggett, County Councilmember George Leventhal, County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, Councilmember Phil Andrews and Kevin Gillogly with Sen. Ben Cardin’s office attend our gathering. All of the elected officials spoke on the importance of the work being conducted by MCMF and how it is making a difference in our county.
All attendees enjoyed good food, great company and the wonderful family atmosphere of the Black Hill Regional Park. With just one week ahead of Mother’s Day, the cookout’s theme of recognizing Mother’s Day was masterfully put together by several MCMF Board members who stepped up to help decorate and add to the welcoming atmosphere of the gathering. Flowers and favor boxes with candies and balloons were given to mothers and children as part of the mother’s day celebration.
MCMF once again extends a heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers; thanks those who have donated from the kindness of their hearts; and thanks Giant Foods and Manna for the growing partnership. Also, MCMF specially thanks those high school students whose efforts garnered the most collected items while earning SSL hours!
For information about partnering, volunteering and/or donating to MCMF on the upcoming “Feed the Homeless” project that will be held from July 22, 2012 to July 29, 2012, please contact us directly at info@mcmfusa.org.
Source: Montgomery County Muslim Foundation Press Release
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