- How has food insecurity in the DMV area changed over the past year?
Overall, we have seen more than a 20% increase in individuals receiving meals. Unfortunately, this is not a new trend as we have seen steady increases in the numbers of our meal guests every year for the past five years. So far this year, we have served 149,212 meals in our dining room.
While it is difficult to make a direct correlation between the SNAP changes/the government shutdown or the start of hypothermia season (November through March), we are taking all the steps necessary in partnership with our sister organizations like Interfaith Works to ensure everyone in need can come inside and have a nutritious, hot meal, especially during the winter months.
While we have experienced a heart-warming response from local and state governments, foundations, and the broader community, finding the in-kind and in-cash resources needed to feed our clients is becoming increasingly challenging. To be able to cope with rising prices of food in general, and of protein in particular, the generosity of the community is becoming more important than ever.
- Have you experienced an increase in the number of individuals seeking assistance from your organization? If so, do you have an estimate of the scale of that increase?
Yes, we’ve experienced a sustained increase and consistently high demand for social services throughout 2025. From January through November 2025, Social Services served an average of approximately 470 unduplicated individuals per month, with monthly counts ranging from 428 to 540 individuals. During that same period, we distributed over 45,000 items through our Resource Center, including hygiene supplies, transportation assistance, phone access, and other basic needs demonstrating not only an increase in the number of individuals served but also the intensity and frequency of services required.
In addition, we served an average of 23 unduplicated prescription voucher (uninsured and co-pay assistance) clients per month, with monthly totals ranging from 16 to 30 individuals, highlighting the growing intersection between food insecurity, health needs, and access to medications.
- Have you noticed any shifts in the socioeconomic backgrounds of those seeking support?
Shepherd’s Table is a low-barrier, direct-service organization. We do not require documentation or ask questions in order for someone to receive a meal or assistance, so we do not track detailed socioeconomic data. Anyone is welcome, regardless of their background or circumstances. However, with that being said, the broader economic climate has been challenging, and we have seen an increase in demand for our services.
- Have the fundraising efforts been affected by the economic situation in the DMV?
Yes. We’re seeing more people in need this year, which means we’ve had to be more proactive in our fundraising. While we have continued support from our donors, we’re being more intentional about outreach, fundraising and goal setting to keep up with the increased demand.
- Has volunteering been impacted or changed in any way recently?
Volunteers are at the heart of our mission at Shepherd’s Table and we could not do the work we do without their continued support. The response from our community has been nothing short of impressive. Volunteers continue to fill our kitchen, eager to help prepare and serve meals, while others organize food, clothing, and resource center drives, knowing these items will go directly to our clients. As of November of this year, we have had 3,425 volunteers clocking in 2,747 hours. Our volunteers come from all walks of life. We have retired individuals, high school students, groups of friends, faith-based communities, coworkers, families, etc. Following recent government layoffs, we’ve seen more former government employees step forward to volunteer. Even in times of uncertainty, people continue to seek connection, purpose, and opportunities to serve their community.
- What steps is your organization taking to meet the growing demand for services?
Besides continuing to provide nutritious daily meals to our clients, we are also working closely with Montgomery County Office of Food System Resilience (OFSR). In addition, we collaborate with other organizations in the county to leverage each other’s strengths and multiply our impact. Many people facing food insecurity in Montgomery County cannot come to Progress Place and it is our hope that, by joining forces with others, we can together expand our services so we can reach and support people in need, wherever they are.
- What message would you like to share with high school students who are able to volunteer or get involved?
Please get involved and bring your friends or family with you! Volunteering at Shepherd’s Table is not just a great way to fulfill your required SSL hours. It is also a very tangible way to build resilience in our community and to make a real difference in people’s lives. So often, we hear from our volunteers that they receive so much more from their volunteer work than they could possibly give.
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, and if you’re not able to volunteer in person, organizing a clothing or food drive is another meaningful way to help. You can also support us by following Shepherd’s Table on social media to stay up to date on our work. While photos of our clients and meal guests aren’t permitted, feel free to share photos of yourself and your friends volunteering or collecting items to donate and tag us. Spreading the word helps bring in new volunteers and supporters. Every contribution matters. Even small actions add up!
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