2010
Community dialogues related to food systems begin amongst County partners.
OFSR Timeline
A Brief History of the Office of Food Systems Resilience
OFSR was created to develop and implement interagency budgetary, regulatory, and operational strategies to build a more equitable, efficient, resilient, and sustainable food system in Montgomery County.
Timeline of Events
2010
Establishment of the Montgomery County Food Council funded by a County Executive grant.
2014
Creation of food recovery funding leading to Community Food Rescue.
2016
Bill 19-16 passed by County Council, requiring an annually-updated food security plan.
2018
Strategic Plan to Advance Food Waste Composting established to maximize food scraps recycling and diversion efforts.
2022
County climate-readiness assessment conducted, informing the launch of OFSR. OFSR established through Bill 20-22, at the recommendation of the County’s COVID-19 Food Security Task Force.
FY23
OFSR is established with $3.5 million in County Operating Budget funds and 3 FTE staff are hired.
December 2023
Special Appropriation #24-37 is passed, allocating $11M to implement the recommendations of the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger.
Spring 2024
OFSR launches the School-Based Food Assistance program, Food as Medicine program, SNAP Outreach program, and Manna Food Staples Partner grants.
Summer 2024
OFSR launches the FY24 Resident and Community Gardening program, and the Cold Storage and Collaborative Funding Agreement programs with Manna Food Center.
August 2024
OFSR launches the MC Groceries program in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services and Instacart Health.
Summer 2024
County food security program impact is collected and aggregated from 100% of funded partners for the first time ever in a new customized and centralized AirTable platform.