Credit: Jalen Wade
A $70,000 food grant is helping three Laurel food pantries replenish supplies and purchase new equipment in the fight against food insecurity.
Prince George’s County Councilman Tom Dernoga (District 1) is sponsoring the funds for nonprofit food distribution efforts. Fish of Laurel Inc., Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS), and Faith Village of Greater Laurel will each receive a portion of the funds in late winter to support food distribution and operational additions, including vehicles and refrigeration.
“This has been an incredibly stressful year for many of our residents, where so many families have been forced to rely on our local nonprofits to get by,” said Dernoga in a statement. “That increased need is also straining our network of amazing nonprofits who always step up during tough times.”
According to the 2025 hunger report from the Capital Area Food Bank, Prince George’s County had the highest percentage of food insecurity in the Washington region. The report states that in 2025, the county had a food insecurity rate of 49% — essentially the same as 2024’s 50% but up from 2023’s 45%.
Shannon Mouton, executive director of LARS, said the organization cannot function without donations. Over the last two years, the kitchen has donated 95,590 meals. LARS is receiving $15,000 from the grant.
“We went through a lot of food in November and December,” Mouton said. “We will use this money to really replenish some of our traditional stockpiles.”
Dernoga said grant funding is typically allocated to nonprofits broadly, not solely to food pantries. This year, food insecurity became the focus after discussions with constituents, nonprofits and fellow council members who identified it as a top concern.
“We tried to spread it all around the district, not just Laurel,” said Dernoga, whose district includes Beltsville, Calverton, and parts of Adelphi and College Park. “You can touch more people with food money.”
Food insecurity has remained a major issue through 2025 due to the economic slowdown and reductions in the federal workforce, Dernoga said.
In March of last year, the Food and Drug Administration announced cuts to food bank supplies as part of $1 billion in federal reductions from the Trump administration.
Fish of Laurel will receive $50,000.
Will Bronson, president of the board of trustees for Fish of Laurel, said funding has been challenging due to reduced federal support flowing through state agencies. He said the $50,000 grant will bolster operations. The organization serves 249 individuals and operates pantry services twice a week. Hot meals are served every evening at the Elizabeth House, 308 Gorman Ave.
“These extra funds are going to be a wonderful leveling tool for us to be able to continue to provide a level of service to our clients,” Bronson said. “Especially with regard to frozen foods and frozen meats that we would not have been able to provide otherwise.”
Faith Village of Greater Laurel at Faith AME Church will receive $10,000.
Lubrina Bryant, the church’s bookkeeper, said the funding will primarily support food purchases, bags, rodent extermination, and the potential purchase of a second delivery van.
“We want to purchase another van,” Bryant said. “So, then there’s gas. There’s higher insurance because we’ll have two vehicles, betterment of our shed, keeping up with the standards in which we need.”