Even before 2020, many of metropolitan Washington’s families struggled with accessing healthy and nutritious food. The economic hardship brought on by COVID-19 has only increased food insecurity.  

At its virtual Annual Meeting, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) made a donation to the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) to help address hunger in the community and signaled its commitment to partnering more closely with CAFB and other food assistance organizations.

“We’re so proud to be focused on ‘rebuilding better’ together, along with partners like you,” said COG Executive Director Chuck Bean, who thanked the CAFB, its volunteers, and the many other organizations doing this important work in the region. “We recognize there is more that can and must be done to support food security in the region.”

In a video message to meeting attendees, CAFB CEO Radha Muthiah spoke about the food needs in the region. According to Muthiah, CAFB is seeing upwards of 550,000 people in its service area struggling with food insecurity this year. Normally, the organization provides 30 million meals to those in need, but this year, it will provide 50 million.


“We owe it to our communities to shine a spotlight on their challenges, highlight the links between food insecurity and health outcomes, livelihood, and productivity, and work toward accelerating their inclusion so all of them can be part of the region’s economic growth,” said Muthiah.

In addition to collaborating more strategically with CAFB and others, including through data sharing, a COG food and agricultural ad-hoc committee of more than 20 local leaders will spend the next year focused on the current state and future of the region’s food system. The group is chaired by DC Councilmember Mary Cheh and vice-chaired by City of Fairfax Councilmember Jon Stehle and Montgomery County Councilmember Craig Rice. 

Throughout the pandemic, COG has regularly convened food policy council leaders, food assistance providers, government staff, elected officials, and other experts to share experiences and best practices on key food security and food access issues, and to provide potential solutions, important connections, and more. It has compiled and shared regional emergency food assistance resources and tracked food policy. And, it has continued its decades-long work in support of local agriculture.

MORE: COG prioritizes food security as lack of access increases for many residents