The foods we eat and adequate nutrition are important throughout our lives, but especially as we age. Nutrition issues are common among seniors for many reasons, among them, limited income, transportation challenges that make shopping difficult, or physical changes that affect our appetites or ability to prepare meals. Here are some resources that may be helpful:
Small Things Matter Kokua Foods Program
The Kokua Foods program provides food insecure families in Maryland with fresh produce and grocery, chicken, casseroles, non-perishable, and household goods on a weekly basis through partnerships with grocery stores, churches, non-profits and volunteers from Montgomery County.
Food distributions take place at TPSS Coop, Takoma Park Seventh Day Adventist Church, and many apartment complexes including Hampshire Tower Apartments and Essex House. They also donate food to 4 Takoma Park Community Pantries (Purple bins near Ward 5, Blue bins in Ward 2, Black bins in Ward 4, and Gray bins in Ward 5). Please join the Facebook Living and Giving Group to find out which bins serve your neighborhood. Search for "food bins".
For more details on the Small Things Matter program, including food distribution days and times, and how to donate, see smallthingsmatter.org/kokuafoods/
Tommy's Pantry
Since March of 2020, Tommy’s Pantry (formerly Takoma Park Middle School Cluster Food Support) has been collaborating with PTA leaders, school personnel, and local government to address pandemic food insecurity among our Takoma Park and Silver Spring neighbors.
For food distribution details, see: https://tommyspantry.org/distribution-schedule/
email: tommyspantry@gmail.com
Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park delivers nutritional meals Monday - Friday to anyone who has difficulty preparing meals or going grocery shopping on a regular basis. Cost for two meals per day is minimal. Delivery service can be for long or short-term as needed, and can be for 3, 4 or 5 days a week. For more information or to request services: 301-434-1922 or mowtakoma.org.
MANNA is a local food bank offering food baskets with perishable and non-perishable items to Montgomery County residents in need. For more information, including distribution sites, and to apply see: mannafood.org or call
301-424-1130.
Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington at 501 Sligo Avenue, Silver Spring,offers help to those experiencing food insecurity. For more information or to apply, please call 301-585-6556 or go to https://acsgw.org/gethelp.
EduCare provides monthly food baskets with perishable and non-perishable items to eligible residents of Takoma Park, primarily to elders and persons with disabilities at selected distribution locations. For more information: https://educaremd.org/, 240-450-2092 or email educare_ss@aol.com.
Montgomery County Congregate Meal Program
https://montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/seniors/congregatemeal.html
The closest Senior Centers offering hot lunches through this program (Monday - Friday) are:
Long Branch Senior Center, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, 240-777-6975
Silver Spring Senior Center, 1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, 240-777-6800 (downtown Silver Spring)
Seniors 60 and over are asked to make a small donation. Those under 60 pay a fee.
Call the Center of your choice for details on making a reservation before you go.
The Senior Nutrition Hotline is open Wednesdays from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Call 240-777-1100 to speak to a registered dietician and get answers to your nutrition questions.
The Senior Nutrition Program is a service of the Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services, Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, go to their website --
montgomerycountymd.gov/senior/health.html -- and click on “Food and Nutrition” or call 240-777-3810.
Feed the Fridge is an effort to bring nourishment where there is hunger while helping pandemic-battered restaurants stay in business. Every morning, this group picks up freshly prepared meals from participating restaurants and delivers to refrigerators in area community centers. Each refrigerator is cleaned, sanitized, and carefully loaded with up to 100 meals each. Students, seniors, and others in need are invited to walk up to the refrigerator and help themselves. No questions. No limits.
To donate to support this program (and for more details), go to feedthefridge.org.
To receive a meal, go to:
Takoma Park Recreation Center at 7315 New Hampshire Avenue
NOTE: As of November 2025, we are trying to confirm that the Feed the Fridge information is accurate. Please check back soon!
REDUCING FOOD WASTE was the topic of a May 2021 Village of Takoma Park zoom event. For a useful list of resources, tips and info on the topic, click here.
SITES THAT MAY CONNECT YOU WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Capital Area Food Bank's map showing how to find food assistance based on location:
Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience