3 Pocket Pantries Pop Up Across Howard County

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Three Pocket Pantries have been created in Howard County as a way to help those experiencing food insecurity.

County officials and community leaders kicked off the Community Refrigerator Program Wednesday. Made possible through a partnership between the county’s Office of Agriculture, Community Action Council of Howard County and community-based non-profits, three Pocket Pantry locations now offer residents free perishable and non-perishable food items, 24/7.

“Community refrigerators are a profoundly simple and incredibly generous concept, connecting our neighbors to one another to address hunger. Today, I’m thrilled to unveil our version of this dynamic model with the launch of three ‘Pocket Pantries,’ which will provide perishable and non-perishable food to anyone in need 24 hours a day, no questions asked,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a news conference.

According to a 2024 study, roughly one in five Howard County residents experienced food insecurity. The CAC partnered with three local nonprofits, Columbia Community Care, RLG Community Foundation, Inc. and Glenelg United Methodist Church, to stock and manage the Pocket Pantries at the following locations:

• Long Reach Village Center, 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia (sponsored by Columbia Community Care)
• Elkridge Christian Community Church, 6327 Meadowridge Road, Elkridge (sponsored by RLG Community Foundation, Inc.)
• Heritage Realty Services, 15950 North Avenue, Lisbon (sponsored by Glenelg United Methodist Church)

“Through this initiative, we are nourishing our neighbors, strengthening our community, and fulfilling our mission of helping people and changing lives,” said Tracy Broccolino, president of the CAC. “Everyone can play a part. Community members who wish to help can visit one of our refrigerated Pocket Pantries and add an item or two. It is that easy to make a difference. Every contribution, big or small, helps keep our neighbors fed, supported, and reminded that we are all in this together.”

The county’s Office of Agriculture and the CAC also will help the three local non-profit sponsors provide food to stock the fridges as needed.

In addition to sponsoring a Pocket Pantry, Columbia Community Care, RLG Community Foundation, Inc. and Glenelg United Methodist Church also offer several programs to help residents in need address food insecurity in the community:

• Open every Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Wilde Lake, Long Reach, Oakland Mills Columbia Community Care’s food pantries are open to any person who requests help, no questions asked. In addition, its grocery delivery service reaches those who are unable to visit its in-person distribution events.
• In addition to its Monthly Food Pantry and Youth Summer Meal Program, RLG Community Foundation, Inc. provides free produce distribution and holiday meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Glenelg United Methodist Church’s Feeding Ministries sponsors:
• Park-It-Market – Provides food outreach to families who are food insecure; visit Lisbon Elementary School once a month.
• In-Church Food Pantry – On the third Saturday of each month food insecure families come to GUMC to food shop.
• Food Bags – Volunteers fill bags of food each month or as needed to support in-school pantry and family needs.
• Grassroots Meals – Each month, church family provide meals for 60 people who have sought help at the Grassroots Crisis Intervention.