Weekly Meal Program Set Up For Lisbon Area Families

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A new partnership has been formed between the county department of community resources and services, the local children’s board, Howard County Public School System, Lisbon Elementary School, the Howard County Library System, Lisbon United Methodist Church and the Lisbon Grill to provide healthy meals and engaging activities for local students.

“This innovative agreement will establish a weekly meal program for students and families in the Lisbon area, and is possible thanks to our strong partnerships with the community,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in a statement. “This pandemic has made food access more difficult for many of our residents and we will continue to find collaborative solutions to ensure no one is left behind.”

The weekly meal program began with an eight-week pilot meal distribution program. Starting in June, the program served more than 600 meal kits to an estimated 35 families and individuals.

“We are grateful to our partners No Kid Hungry, the Roving Radish, the Lisbon Grill our library system and all of the other intra-agency volunteers and partners who made this initiative possible,” said Jacqueline R. Scott, director of the department of community resources and services. “We’re convinced that this program is a strong model for how government and community members can work together to address needs and to spur opportunity for all residents throughout Howard County.”

The program is funded and staffed with volunteers through coordinated by DCRS and the local children’s board. The Howard County Library System will continue providing learning activity kits for households with children ages 3-10 years, which were distributed along with the pilot meal kits.