Bowie Food Pantry

We provided food personal care items and household supplies to 733 client households during 5899 client visits. All clients are required to initially register to determine eligibility for assistance and then re-register annually to determine continuing eligibility. Frequency of visits is determined by the Board depending on the availability of food. Currently clients are limited to visits either every two weeks or four weeks depending on their city of residence in Prince George's County MD their age and their disability status. The pantry has two garden plots which yield approximately $8,000 to $10,000 in produce each year for our clients.

We provided financial assistance to qualifying households for rent and other housing expenses as well as utilities. We paid a total of 12 client bills made payable directly to the vendor owed. One client received assistance with two bills. Many other clients were referred to other agencies for assistance.

We have special programs throughout the year for the benefit of our clients. Our holiday programs included providing $50 gift cards to client families to purchase holiday gifts for 163 children plus we provided $100 gift cards to 290 households to purchase Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. During the spring of 2023 we provided 297 client families with $100 gift cards to local grocery store and provided an additional 172 clients with gift cards during the summer totaling $8,600. Throughout the fiscal year there were instances where we provided 194 client families with gift cards of varying types and amounts for a total of $8,380. Most of these gift cards were donated to us from the community and based on timing and availability some families received gift cards more than once during the year.