Before Columbia Community Care’s food pantry opens each morning, David Carothers might already be filming a “Behind the Bite” reel for Instagram, showing off the types of food that CCC keeps in stock. Meanwhile, Zakariya Jaweed is likely walking the aisles of a grocery store, purchasing items that need to fill the shelves. Both found […]
Service Year Spotlight: David and Zakariya Keep the Pantry Stocked Read More »
Howard County is one of the wealthiest in the U.S., yet families are still going hungry. Columbia Community Care is closing the gap with no questions asked
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Hunger in Howard County Read More »
It was March 2020, the world had just stopped, and Carrie Ross had just moved back to Howard County from Seattle with no job and no clear direction. Like a lot of people that spring, she turned to Facebook, scrolling through community groups, trying to get a feel for the place she’d landed. That’s where
Our first multilingual visitor survey reveals what it means to face food insecurity in Howard County — and what CCC’s role looks like from the inside. There’s a question that only people who experience food insecurity can actually answer: What does it actually feel like to depend on food assistance in Howard County? What difference
We Asked. Here’s What Our Community Told Us. Read More »
Realtor Shazia Rajan didn’t expect to find food insecurity in affluent Howard County, Maryland. After volunteering with Columbia Community Care, she discovered hidden hunger affects families in one of the state’s wealthiest communities—and joined the nonprofit’s board to help.
‘An Eye Opener’: Hidden Hunger in Howard County Read More »
“My mom did everything she was supposed to do, and we still struggled,” said Jessica Nichols, a Maryland educator and chairperson of the Board of Directors for Columbia Community Care, and hunger relief nonprofit in Howard County, Maryland. “Paydays were great because we had food, but somewhere around five or six days before the next
As Federal Shutdown Threatens SNAP Benefits, Hunger Crisis Looms for Maryland Families Read More »
As someone who works on the front lines of hunger relief every day, I was deeply troubled by Saturday’s announcement that the USDA would cancel the decades-long Household Food Security Report. This critical annual survey tracks how many Americans struggle to put food on their tables, providing essential data that shapes our understanding of food insecurity nationwide.
Why We Need the Food Insecurity Report Now More Than Ever Read More »
As an educator, Meg Feroli often found hungry students in her classroom. That is why she was quick to volunteer with CCC when the pandemic hit. Now, she is CCC’s director of operations and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference for local families.
Volunteer Spotlight: Meg Feroli, Director of Operations Read More »
“Food insecurity isn’t just about hunger – it’s about deeply rooted systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing the nutrition they need,” explains Erika Chavarria, executive director of Columbia Community Care (CCC). “Even in an affluent area like Howard County, we see how these barriers impact our neighbors every day.” While Howard County appears prosperous
Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding Food Access Challenges in Howard County Read More »
For Jessica Nichols, the mission of Columbia Community Care isn’t just about feeding families—it’s about giving back to her younger self.
From Hunger to Hope Read More »
