Feeding Neighbors: St. John’s, Rockville, MD

Since September 2021, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rockville, MD has been feeding families through its “Nurture Our Neighbor” monthly food distributions. The ministry grew out of Lenten study during the COVID shutdown, as St. John’s saw the increased need among their neighbors. In the years since, the ministry has grown from providing bags of staples to fewer than 50 households to now providing pantry staples, eggs, and produce to more than 120 households monthly using a choice model. Families are able to choose what they need from the items offered.

In November 2025, St. John’s entered a partnership with Mid-County United Ministries (MUM), a local Montgomery County non-profit. Through a grant from the county, MUM purchases most of the items needed for the distribution and St. John’s provides the space and volunteers. Volunteers include members and friends of St. John’s, as well as neighbors and students seeking student service learning hours. St. John’s even has a recipient who helps translate Chinese at their check-in! St. John’s also received a Feeding Our Neighbors Together grant from the synod, and they used it to purchase items that are not purchased by MUM such as canisters of oatmeal (a favorite of many of our clients).