Meeting the Moment: Mobilizing Support for Families During Crisis

Photo Credit: Bread for the City, DC

Thousands of families across the Greater Washington region are facing an urgent hunger crisis following the recent federal government shutdown and disruptions to SNAP benefits.

More than 230,000 families across the region rely on SNAP benefits that were delayed or reduced during the shutdown. The disruption came as food insecurity remains at extremely high levels across our region – impacting 36% of households—an estimated 1.5 million people, according to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2025 Hunger Report.

Even now that the shutdown has ended, these families will continue to feel its ripple effects, as they struggle to pay for groceries, medicine, housing, and other essentials needed to regain stability.

Photo Credit: Food Justice DMV, Northern Virginia

Mobilizing Philanthropy to Support Our Neighbors

In response to this urgent need for many in our region, The Community Foundation and our donors and philanthropic partners quickly mobilized to meet the moment.

Since the government shutdown began on October 1, our donors have directed more than $784,000 in grant funding to nonprofits fighting food insecurity across the region including Capital Area Food Bank, Manna Food Center, Martha’s Table, DC Central Kitchen, and more.

"We're incredibly grateful to our fundholders for their swift response to this crisis," shared President & CEO Tonia Wellons. "Time and time again – from 9/11 to COVID and the tragic DCA plane crash earlier this year – this community shows up when Greater Washington families need support most."

Recognizing both the need in the community and the desire of fundholders to respond, The Community Foundation committed $125,000 toward a Challenge Match – driven by a generous donation from the England Family Foundation – to provide direct cash assistance to families directly impacted by the government shutdown to help ease immediate financial pressure during this critical time.  

Photo Credit: Rainbow Community Development Center, Silver Spring, MD

Within days, The Community Foundation’s donors contributed an additional $238,340 in matching funds, including a generous $150,000  contribution made directly to Capital Area Food Bank  inspired by our efforts.

Thank you to the following individuals and other generous donors for contributing to this important work:

• Decker Anstrom and Sherry Heimstra

• Terry Beaty

• Shirley Brandman & Howard M. Shapiro

• Wendy Goldberg

• Ethan and Karen Leder

• The Lindenberg Family Fund

• June Linowitz

• Bill Taylor

• The Thornapple Foundation

Photo Credit: Crossroads Community Food Network, Takoma Park, MD

The Community Foundation is working with the following trusted community partners to distribute funds directly to families across the region:

• Prince George's County
  United Communities Against Poverty

• Montgomery County
  Manna, Identity, IMPACT Silver Spring, and Interfaith Works

• Northern Virginia
  Britepaths

• Washington, DC
  Bread for the City and East River Family Strengthening Collaborative

“Cash transfers are one of the quickest and most effective ways to help families during times of crisis,” shared Darius Graham, Managing Director of Community Investment at The Community Foundation. “Thank you to our incredible donors and community partners who stepped up to make this possible.”

The initiative comes as partners across our philanthropic community have increasingly made investments to support those experiencing food insecurity – including the England Family Foundation, which deployed $1 million in emergency funds to support DC residents. Together, these investments represent the kind of coordinated response needed to help families weather this crisis.

For those who wish to support this initiative or other hunger relief efforts in our region, contact our team at [email protected] or visit our website to learn more about our Community Resilience Fund.