Montgomery County is often described as one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, yet hunger is quietly threaded through its neighborhoods. A new regional hunger report shows 31% of households experienced food insecurity in 2026, a reminder that thousands of families are working multiple jobs, living in small apartments, and still struggling to put food on the table. 

“The need to support families is growing while the cost of supporting them is rising,” says Megan Joe, So What Else Executive Director of Hunger Relief. “We’re seeing large families working two or three jobs and still falling short. The misconception is that Montgomery County doesn’t have hunger, but we see the truth every day.”

For So What Else, this reality shapes every decision, every delivery, and every pound of food rescued. In 2025 alone, So What Else distributed over 18 million pounds of food across the DMV,ensuring fresh produce, pantry staples, and prepared meals reached families within hours of arriving at our Food Rescue Bank. This is made possible through partnerships with food sources like grocery stores, wholesale warehouses, and  local farms.

At First Fruits Farm, located in Freeland, Maryland, Director of Food Outreach Jeff Pierce sees the impact of fresh, rescued produce every day. 

“The food that we grow here comes right out of the field,” he says. “It’s put on trucks, it’s sent out, and hopefully it’s on someone’s dinner table that day or the next day.” 

According to Pierce, one hundred percent of everything First Fruits Farm grows is donated to feed children and adults who are struggling with hunger and access to healthy food. Since its inception, nearly 40 million pounds of fresh produce have been harvested and distributed to food banks, shelters, schools, churches and other organizations throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. For Pierce, the partnership with So What Else is a force multiplier. 

“The So What Else vehicles will be here several times a week,” says Pierce. An organization like So What Else is able to reach many people. By partnering, we’re able to receive large amounts and share large amounts with them, so we’re able to multiply our efforts.”

And Inside the So What Else warehouse, the heartbeat of food rescue is unmistakable through the hard work of our staff and volunteers. Makenna Khandagle, Volunteer Coordinator, sees it every day. 

“Our volunteers are so core to our organization; we would not have what we have without them,” she says. “Most of the food we receive has to be turned over within 24 to 48 hours. We don’t have a ton of refrigerated space, so volunteers work hard every day to make sure the food is out to clients.”

At So What Else, our mission  to show up where the need is greatest. And we take that job and our mission seriously. Preventing waste is inseparable from preventing hunger. Every rescued pallet, every partnership, and every volunteer shift strengthens a community where love is measured not just in woisrds, but in meals delivered and families supported.

We invite you to celebrate our mission and help grow our impact at the 16th Annual So What Else Love One Another Gala on November 6. This special event brings our community together for an evening of connection, celebration, and support for the So What Else organization and impact. We would love to see you there.