• Help
    You Can Count On

    Mid-County United Ministries (MUM) has been providing a safety net since 1996.
  • TogetherWe Can Help!
    Find out how
    you can fit in!
  • Do You Need Help?
    Find out how
    we can help you.

Donate Food

Drop off food donations at our pantry during office hours on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. read more

Donate Time

Volunteer to work in our food pantry, help with paper work, or help us with fund raising activities. read more

Money Donations are always crucial, especially in these difficult times. read more

How We Help

MUM provides assistance for:
 Eviction prevention
 Utility cutoff prevention/restoration
 Prescription drugs
 Non-perishable food
 Referrals to other agencies
read more

Joseph A. Mattingly, Jr. Food Pantry

Joseph A. Mattingly No one in our society should go hungry, yet some of our clients do. Our pantry is meant to supplement the food that our clients purchase themselves or obtain from other agencies. In 2006 the Food Pantry was named in memory of a brave Montgomery County police officer, Captain Joseph Mattingly, Jr., whose empathy for struggling families in the community motivated him to want to start a food program. Read more.


A Mountain of Rice For MUM!

Rice Bowl 2013 It seemed like an audacious goal for First Alliance Church of Silver Spring, but Pastor Mike Mercurio urged his congregation to try. In February, the church launched a Rice Bowl, aiming to collect in a few weeks 1,000 pounds of rice in small bags for MUM's food pantry. "It would be fun to stretch ourselves and do something bigger," Mercurio said. The collection by First Alliance members inspired similar efforts by Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church and MUM's own board of directors during the last week of the Rice Bowl. The final tally of all those bags of rice amounted to nearly 1,500 pounds! "It's fun when it just happens," said Mercurio. MUM was able to share some of the rice with Shepherd's Table of Silver Spring, a nonprofit organization serving the homeless, and still have enough to stock its pantry for months. We are grateful for the spirited generosity of those who act to help their neighbors in need.


Meet MUM's New Executive Director

Larry White Larry White, an associate pastor at Streams of Hope Church in Olney, brings years of familiarity with MUM's service area and a deep appreciation for its diversity to his new post as executive director at Mid-County United Ministries. Learn more about Larry.


Latest News

Serving Up Smart Eating
Nutrition class
MUM clients are learning about good nutrition on a budget in a new partnership between MUM and the University of Maryland Extension office this spring. Educator Elizabeth Saunders is leading a free, six-week class for clients of the nonprofit's pantry at the Mid-County Regional Center in Wheaton. "A healthy body starts with your foods," she told class members recently, listing the benefits of heaping helpings of fruits and vegetables. Even when the household budget is too tight for fresh food, she said, canned fruits and vegetables can be nutritious if they are drained or rinsed in water to reduce levels of sugar and salt. Classes include exercise, food prep demonstrations, interpreting food labels and reviewing recipes.

As the host organization, MUM is encouraging regular attendance at the weekly classes by offering a gift card to participants who complete the course. Those interested in joining a class should call the MUM office at 301–929–8675 for more information.
Nutrition class doing exercises

all news

Mid-County United Ministries is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization registered within the State of Maryland.
Gifts to Mid-County United Ministries are tax deductible as allowed by law. Copyright 2011 Mid-County United Ministries. All rights reserved.

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Help You Can Count On!

Mid-County United Ministries (MUM) has been providing a safety net to the working poor, the disabled, the elderly on fixed incomes, and the unemployed since 1996. In April of 2010, the Wheaton/Kensington Chamber of Commerce named MUM "Nonprofit of the Year" for the outstanding work it has done in serving the community.

MUM is part of Montgomery County's Emergency Assistance Coalition working with public and private social service agencies to provide financial help to individuals and families in Wheaton, Aspen Hill, and Kensington.

MUM is a partner agency with the Capital Area Food Bank to provide clients with non-perishable food from the Captain Joseph A. Mattingly Jr. pantry.

Mum also works in partnership with the eye clinic at Shepherd's Table, the medical clinic Proyecto Salud, and the Colesville Volunteer Dental Clinic, giving clients referrals when appropriate.
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Together, We Can Help!

From its beginnings, the spirit of MUM has been one of collaboration. Dedicated to serving the emergency and food needs of the limited income community in Wheaton, Aspen Hill, and Kensington, MUM was established in 1996 as a cooperative effort of faith congregations and Community Ministry of Montgomery County, now known as Interfaith Works. The charter churches Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, Hughes United Methodist, Northwood Presbyterian Church, St. Matthew Presbyterian, St. Catherine Laboure Catholic, Wheaton Presbyterian Church, Luther Rice Memorial Baptist, and First Baptist of Wheaton knew the growing number of requests for financial help from those in need would be better served if they pooled their resources to increase their effectiveness.

MUM continues to work closely with eighteen area churches that offer support, as well as with the Montgomery County police, area businesses, and organizations such as the Democratic Central Committee. MUM now is an independent agency, a member of the county's Emergency Assistance Coalition.

In addition, MUM partners with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Housing Opportunity Commission, Interfaith Works, Catholic Charities, Jewish Social Services, Bethesda Cares, Manna, Shepherd's Table, Proyecto Salud, and the Colesville Volunteer Dental Clinic.

None of MUM's goals could be achieved without the collaboration of its Executive Director, small staff, and its volunteers, including a working Board of Directors.
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Do You Need Help?

MUM is dedicated to serving the emergency and food needs of the limited income community in parts of Wheaton, Aspen Hill, and Kensington. MUM serves the Montgomery County zip codes of 20902, 20906, 20895, 20896, and 20853. We refer people from other zip codes to the appropriate agencies in the Emergency Assistance Coalition.

If you live in one of the above mentioned zip codes, you may call MUM at 301-929-8675 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to set up an appointment to meet with Diane Schroeder, the executive director. During this conversation, Ms. Schroeder will explain which identifying documents to bring in, depending upon the type of service that is needed.

If you have additional needs that MUM cannot meet, Ms. Schroeder will refer you to an appropriate source of help.

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Donate Food

MUM is always happy to receive food donations. Because the size of the pantry is limited, MUM gives only non-perishable foods. Items we ALWAYS need (because they are part of the standard package we provide our clients) are:

• Hot/Cold Cereals                                      • Crackers/Cookies
• Canned Fruits/Vegetables                          • Dessert Mixes/Icing
• Dry/Canned Beans, Pastas, Rices;             • Fruit Juices
• Pasta Sauces                                               • Dry/Canned Milk
• Canned Meats/Tuna                                   • Tea/Cocoa/Coffee
• Soups/Stews/Chilies                                   • Diet Specific Foods
• Peanut Butter/Jelly                                     • Toiletries
• Condiments/Spices


If you wish to donate non-perishable food to MUM, please call during regular office hours [Mon. and Wed. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thurs. 9a.m. to 3 p.m.] to schedule delivery.

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Donate Time

Volunteers are needed in the following areas:

• Food Pantry Volunteers
   • Organize pantry and distribute food to clients during regular office hours. [Mon. and Wed. 9 a.m.
      to 4:30 p.m., and Thurs. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.] You can give a morning or an afternoon or a full day.
   • On an as needed basis, organize food at our main storage facility and transport food items to the
      pantry.
   • On an as needed basis, shop for select food items for the pantry.

• Food Drive Coordinator
  • Identify sources and help with the organization of neighborhood, business, and school food drives.

• November Food March participant
  • Take part in and invite friends to join you in MUM's annual march to alleviate hunger.

• Grant Writers
  • Develop grant proposals to foundations to supplement funds for MUM's basic services as well as operating expenses.

• Media Marketing Coordinator
  • Organize publicity campaigns to make MUM better known in the community and to raise money.

• Spanish Language Interpreters
  • Give two hours a week to help non-English speaking clients express their needs and receive help.

• Newsletter Coordinator
  • Organize the mailing of the newsletter four times a year.

• Social Media Coordinator
  • Website, Face Book, and other social media design/development/maintenance expertise.

To volunteer, fill out and submit the "MUM Volunteer Candidate Information Form".

For further information contact Diane Schroeder, Director of Mid-County United Ministries at 301-929-8675 or

director@mumhelp.org
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Donate Money

In these challenging economic times, MUM struggles to keep up with the increased demands for its services. The following stories of Anne R. and Mr. and Mrs. M illustrate how your financial contributions can make a difference.

Anne R. is an elderly single woman living on $450 a month from Social Security. With that she must pay her rent, utilities, and food. She is fortunate to have subsidized housing and does not have medical prescriptions to buy. Anne relies on MUM for food, and when the price of gas went up, she asked for help paying her gas bill. A $100 gas bill seems like a fortune to a person on limited income.

Mr. and Mrs. M. have a young family of five children. In addition, they have custody of five nieces and nephews whose parents are deceased. Mr. M. receives a Social Security income of $623 per month, as he is disabled. Mrs. M., although only age 29, recently suffered two small strokes and has been diagnosed with epilepsy. They receive $1,038 in survivors' benefits for the nieces and nephews. Even with $604 in food stamps, they find it difficult to feed a family of twelve. MUM helps by providing food and, on occasion, utility assistance.

Your cash donations do make a difference. Without the support of family and friends any of us could find ourselves in similar situations. We are grateful for any assistance you can give us. Please partner with us in alleviating the suffering and desperation of our needier neighbors.