Montgomery County Area Freebies Food Events Wellness And Assistance Programs

Introduction

Montgomery County offers numerous freebies and assistance programs for residents across various categories. These resources include free food distributions, event admissions, wellness programs, and holiday assistance. The county's diverse freebie ecosystem serves different needs, from daily necessities to entertainment and special holiday support. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the available free resources in Montgomery County, highlighting eligibility requirements, locations, and access methods.

Food and Grocery Freebies

Manna Choice Market

The Manna Choice Market provides free groceries and fresh produce to Montgomery County residents. The market operates on the second Wednesday of each month from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. To participate, residents must register by calling (301) 424-1130 at least 24 hours in advance.

The market is located in room G318 of the University of Maryland Shady Grove (USG) Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Building. Free parking is available in Lot 2, with participants receiving a one-hour parking voucher after checking in at the market. The process requires scanning the parking ticket upon entering and then scanning the voucher ticket when exiting.

Food Distribution Services

Montgomery County operates several food distribution sites to assist residents with food insecurity:

• Langley Park Distribution Center Location: 8221 13th St., Silver Spring, MD 20903 Contact: 301-891-9512 or [email protected] Service area: Langley Park, Long Branch, Silver Spring, Takoma Park and surrounding areas Walk-in food distribution occurs Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. TEFAP-eligible food distribution is available on the third Friday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with pre-registration required. Diapers are available once a month during food distribution events.

• East County Service Consolidation Hub Location: 11710 Beltsville Dr., Calverton, MD 20705 Contact: 301-679-1100 x0508 or 240-707-1085 (Hub Coordinator) Email: [email protected] Service area: Briggs Chaney, Burtonsville, Cloverly, Colesville, Fairland, Hillandale, White Oak Distribution occurs through drive-through and walk-up options with semi-choice and full choice for non-perishables:

  • Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. at East County Rec Center
  • Every first and third Tuesday at White Oak Apartments or Windsor Court & Towers Apartments (rotating weeks)
  • Every second and fourth Thursday at Galway Elementary School or Greencastle Elementary School (rotating weeks)
  • Every other Friday at Spring Parc Apartments
  • Last Thursday of the month at Enclaves Apartments

Holiday Food Assistance

The Holiday Giving Project of Montgomery County has provided Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance to low-income households for over 30 years. The program coordinates through a network of social workers, school counselors, and human service professionals who refer families in need to the County's Department of Health and Human Services.

The department then distributes validated referrals among the Holiday Giving Coalition, which consists of local non-profits, faith-based organizations, and government entities. Each coalition member adopts specific zip codes in the county to serve referred families, providing food, gift cards, and toys collected through donations.

In 2023, the project successfully matched 13,300+ families and served over 27,500 children through 41 partner organizations, with schools providing half of all referrals.

Restaurant Promotions

Several restaurant chains offer periodic free food promotions in the Montgomery County area:

• Staples offers personalized "first day of school" signs for free, available for in-store pickup. The offer is valid through September 13.

• On National Chicken Finger Day (July 27), customers can order one "Box Combo" meal at Raising Cane's and receive a free chicken finger.

• On National Chicken Wing Day (July 29), purchasing a 10-piece order of wings at Greene Turtle locations in the D.C. area qualifies customers for a second order of wings for free.

Event and Entertainment Freebies

Free Festivals and Events

Montgomery County hosts several annual events with free admission:

• The DMV Made Festival takes place on the National Mall on July 26, featuring live performances of music, poetry, and storytelling, a wellness zone, and a youth stage.

• The annual Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale occurs on July 26 and 27, with nearly 30 participating farms and free admission.

• The Great Country Throwdown at the Clarendon Ballroom offers free entry on July 26, featuring live country music, a line dancing class, mechanical bull rides, and other Nashville-style entertainment.

Free Classes and Activities

During government shutdowns, several fitness establishments in the area offer free or discounted services to federal employees:

• CYCLED! locations in Silver Spring and Takoma Park offer free classes with the code "SweatItOut@CYCLED!" when showing a government ID at check-in.

• RYDE Cycle in Clarendon offers free 5:30 p.m. classes Monday through Thursday for those with a federal ID during shutdown periods, along with free shoe rentals for all classes with federal ID.

• Sweat DC in Petworth offers a free two-week pass for its 45-minute high-intensity core-cardio-strength classes.

Montgomery County Parks also provides discounts during government shutdowns: - 50% off public skating admission at Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena (for federal employees and up to three family members) - 50% off a bucket of balls at the South Germantown Driving Range - 50% off Spot Time court fees at Pauline Betz Addie Tennis and Wheaton Indoor Tennis - 25% discount on all permits and rentals for events happening while the permit holder is furloughed

Health and Wellness Freebies

Wellness Programs

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has established comprehensive wellness programs recognized with multiple awards:

• MCPS received the Healthiest Maryland Businesses 2024 Exemplar Business Award for well-established workplace wellness practices promoting a culture of health.

• The district was selected by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence as a 2015 Health & Wellness Trailblazer Award winner.

• MCPS earned the Alliance for Workplace Excellence Health & Wellness Seal of Approval in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

• The district received a gold Wellness at Work Award for 2019 and 2020 from Healthiest Maryland Businesses (HMB).

The MCPS wellness program, known as Well Aware, surveys employees to identify wellness programs, activities, and incentives they would like to see implemented. Permanent employees (excluding substitute teachers, temporary employees, or retirees) are eligible to participate in these wellness initiatives.

Holiday Assistance Programs

Beyond food assistance, Montgomery County offers comprehensive holiday support for families in need:

The Holiday Giving Project coordinates with local non-profits, faith-based organizations, and government entities to provide Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance. The program operates through a referral system, with social workers, school counselors, and other human service professionals identifying families in need and referring them to the County's Department of Health and Human Services.

The department then distributes these validated referrals among coalition members who have adopted specific zip codes throughout the county. These coalition partners provide food, gift cards, and toys collected through donations to ensure referred families can celebrate the holidays.

The program's impact is significant, having served thousands of children and families in need over its 30+ year history. In 2023 alone, the project matched more than 13,300 families and served over 27,500 children through 41 partner organizations.

Conclusion

Montgomery County offers a diverse range of free resources and assistance programs to support residents across various needs. From regular food distributions and grocery giveaways to free event admissions and wellness programs, the county provides accessible resources for its residents. The holiday assistance programs, particularly the Holiday Giving Project, offer critical support for families facing economic challenges during the holiday season.

Residents can access these resources through registration requirements, eligibility verification, or simply by attending scheduled events. The county's network of distribution centers, holiday assistance programs, and community partnerships ensures that free resources are available to those who need them most.

For the most current information on schedules, locations, and eligibility requirements, residents are encouraged to contact the respective programs directly or visit the official Montgomery County government websites.

Sources

1. WTOP Blog - Friday Freebies
2. Montgomery County Holiday Giving Project
3. NBC Washington - Deals and Freebies During Government Shutdown
4. MCPS Wellness Programs
5. Manna Choice Market Free Groceries
6. Montgomery County Food Distribution Services
7. Montgomery County PA Emergency Food Funding