Bridging the Gap

n Friday, December 27, Buddhist Relief made a routine food delivery of approximately 500 pounds to the First Baptist Church of Silver Spring. But while the date was routine, the circumstances were anything but.

Sarah, one of the coordinators at the pantry, explained a major challenge they were facing: their primary supplier, the Capital Area Food Bank, was closed for two weeks over the holidays, preventing any new orders until the new year. Compounding the issue, the food bank had stopped restocking its own inventory at the beginning of December in preparation for end-of-year accounting. As a result, essential staples were becoming increasingly scarce.

The impact was stark. Empty shelves told the story—no peanut butter, no jams or jellies, no cold cereal. In addition, vital pantry items such as tomato sauce, tuna, condiments, and large soups were also completely depleted. While Buddhist Relief’s delivery helped significantly, it became clear that an additional delivery would be crucial to bridging the gap until the food bank resumed normal operations.

Recognizing the urgent need, Buddhist Relief stepped in again. On Friday, January 3, we made a special delivery specifically to restock the items the pantry had run out of. This shipment included peanut butter, jams and jellies, a variety of soups, sugar, flour, condiments, pasta sauce, and dry breakfast cereals—foods the community relies on daily but could not access due to the supply disruption.

JoAnne, a longtime volunteer at the pantry, warmly welcomed the delivery. She expressed her gratitude, noting that Buddhist Relief consistently brings exactly what people need and use. Our commitment to providing thoughtful, essential food items ensures that families facing hardship can continue to receive the nourishment they depend on.

As we move forward into the new year, Buddhist Relief remains dedicated to supporting our community through food relief efforts. If you’d like to contribute to our mission, donations are always welcome and help us respond swiftly to urgent needs. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in the fight against hunger.