Doyle Construction: Fighting Hunger, One Little Food Library at a Time

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When Doyle Construction first came to volunteer with So What Else in the summer of 2025, nobody expected they’d walk out with a whole new building project on their hands. They came ready to sort food and serve families. They left committed…

Thanksgiving Give Back Week 2025: Feeding 30,000 Families and Supporting Furloughed Workers

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This Thanksgiving, we’re focused on one goal: provide holiday meals for 30,000 families across our region during Thanksgiving Give Back Week. You can make an immediate difference—just $24 sponsors one family’s Thanksgiving dinner. At…

Hub for Hope: Viers Mill Elementary School Food Distribution

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For a year and a half, So What Else has been a steady presence at Viers Mill Elementary School, showing up twice a month with fresh produce and healthy staples that families specifically ask for most. What began as “food drop-offs” has grown…

So What Else Launches Federal Worker Relief Program with Special Food Distribution Day on November 2

Updated November 6, 2025. Originally published October 27, 2025  With the U.S. government shutdown now stretching into its fourth week, thousands of federal employees and contractors across the DC-Maryland region are missing paychecks and…

Volunteer Voices: Marcia Miller on Finding Purpose, Connection, and Community at So What Else

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When longtime Montgomery County resident Marcia Miller retired in 2019, she planned to spend her days volunteering and enjoying time with family. But like so many, her plans were put on pause when the pandemic hit. A few years later, a conversation…

Student Leadership Institute 2025: A Summer of Growth and Service

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This summer, the Student Leadership Institute brought together passionate high school and middle school students from across Montgomery County for a season of growth, teamwork, and community impact. At the heart of the program were nine…

The 2025 Youth Summer Olympics: A Grand Success 🏅

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SWE & CYOC Create an Unforgettable Summer Celebration Together! By George Wang On August 1, 2025, despite the morning drizzle and overcast skies, Anacostia Park in Washington, D.C., hosted a vibrant and joyful event — the 2025 Youth…

Supporting Families with Sick Infants and Toddlers with Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program (MCITP)

Remember how stressful it was to go grocery shopping during the pandemic? Waiting in line, masking, social distancing, and hunting for essentials like Clorox wipes or Purell to keep your family safe. Wiping down groceries, dealing with diaper…

How Climate Change is Impacting Global Food Systems and Security

Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a current reality that is reshaping ecosystems, economies, and, most importantly, food systems worldwide. As an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families, particularly…

Innovative Nutrition Education Programs Tackling Food Insecurity in Rural Areas

How Nutrition Education Can Transform Communities Nutrition education is a powerful tool in combating food insecurity. At So What Else, we have designed programs that do more than just provide food – we teach people how to make healthier…