Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy held a press conference Oct. 31 that focused on food security in the county as federal workers are without income during the government shutdown.
The shutdown, which began on Oct.1, is the second longest in US history.
Indivisible Route 1 has compiled and circulated a list of resources for those seeking food assistance. Streetcar Suburbs has not independently verified this information.
“This county administration is focused on serving people and meeting people where they are and meeting their needs to our federal workers,” Braveboy said. “I just want them to know that we see them, we understand their issues. We understand that for so many of them, they’re used to being the ones that stand in the gap for others, and now we as government are standing in the gap for them.”
Braveboy said that she and her administration have been in conversation with Governor Wes Moore, who allocated 10 million of emergency funds for those losing the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance, to get funding to local non-profits.
She said she has been working with the Prince Georges county school system to extend the hot meal program. The county has started a hot supper program for some children in afterschool programs at their schools, according to an Oct. 29 press release.
Mary Kirkland, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Prince Georges County Public Schools, spoke on this partnership during the press conference.
Students that are receiving SNAP benefits and students who are already approved for free meals will continue to get those free meals. Additionally, students attending and participating in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) programs will continue to receive the free meal benefit.
“We are compiling a list of information and resources for our families that we will later distribute,” Kirkland said. “But please be assured that Prince George’s County Public Schools and Food Nutrition Services, we remain steadfast in our efforts to support our students and families during this time.”
Braveboy is working with Pastor Kobby Sarbong of Redeemers Church of Christ in Lanham as well as Pastor John Odukoya of Fountain of Life Grace Springs Church in Upper Marlboro. Redeemer hosted a food giveaway on Nov.1, and Fountain will hold one on Nov. 21.
“As an African immigrant, I don’t know, ‘shut down’”, Sarbong said. “But I know what is called hunger, and I understand when things are not going right with the people. And I’m privileged to be leading over 2,500 membership in the church so I can understand their pain.”
Braveboy said that she will also continue to support the continued operation of local federal facilities such as the Beltsville Agricultural research center and the NASA facility in Greenbelt.
“We believe that those assets of the federal government located here in Prince Georges County should be here,” Braveboy said. “We should have more.”
Olson (District 3) also spoke at the conference stating that this was “a man made disaster from the white house and Republican leadership.”
County council members Krystal Oriadha (District 7), Shayla Adams Stanford (District 5), Ingrid Watson (District 4) also attended the press conference.