Greenbelt Receives $25,000 Pepco Community Resilience Grant to Strengthen Local Food Access and Emergency Preparedness

The City of Greenbelt is proud to announce it has been awarded a $25,000 Community Resilience Grant through the Pepco Sustainable Communities Program to strengthen the Greenbelt Grows initiative and enhance local food access and resilience. In collaboration with CHEARS, Greenbelt Rotary, and the Greenbelt Farmers Market, the city will use the grant to purchase a mobile refrigerated storage unit that will safely store fresh, locally grown produce collected from community gardens, merchants, residents, and Farmers Market vendors.

Why This Matters

Prince George’s County continues to experience high levels of food insecurity. Recent data show that about 12% of County residents—and nearly 1 in 5 children—live in food-insecure households. According to Maryland Hunger Solutions and the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report, Prince George’s County has one of the highest rates of food hardship in the D.C. region. Greenbelt, while rich in community spirit and resources, still faces gaps in access to affordable, fresh produce, particularly for seniors, working families, and residents without reliable transportation.

Project Goals

Through the Pepco Community Resilience Grant, Greenbelt Grows aims to:

• Increase equitable access to fresh, locally sourced produce by expanding mobile food distribution directly into Greenbelt’s neighborhoods.

• Reduce food waste by collecting surplus produce from markets, merchants, and residents, storing it safely for redistribution.

• Strengthen emergency preparedness by providing a refrigerated storage option for food during power outages or severe weather.

• Promote food safety and volunteer capacity through city-sponsored Serve Safe training, ensuring all volunteers can safely handle and distribute food.

• Build long-term community resilience by creating systems that support sustainable, local food distribution year-round.

Community Collaboration

This project was made possible thanks to strong local partnerships. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to CHEARS, Greenbelt Rotary, and the Greenbelt Farmers Market for their leadership and collaboration, and to the organizations whose letters of support helped secure this grant: RUAK, The New Deal Café, The Greenbelt Black History & Culture Committee, Greenbelt PORCH, GILA, and St. Hughes Food Pantry.

Looking Ahead

The mobile refrigerated unit is more than equipment — it’s a shared community asset. It represents Greenbelt’s continued commitment to sustainability, health, and compassion. By creating a safe, flexible, and community-based food storage system, Greenbelt Grows will help ensure that no good food goes to waste and that every resident has access to the nourishment they need to thrive.

We extend deep gratitude to Pepco for investing in community resilience and to all our partners and residents who help make Greenbelt Grows a success. Together, we are growing a healthier, stronger, and more connected Greenbelt.