Information About the Thurmont Food Bank

The Thurmont Food Bank (TFB) does not have a paid staff. Everyone who works at the food bank is a volunteer. Most of the volunteers are senior citizens, but there are volunteers ranging from 16 to 80-plus years of age.

The food is not all given by the government. Approximately 40 percent of the food is donated by local businesses, churches, organizations, restaurants, farms, individuals, and schools. Approximately 5 percent of the food is from U.S. government’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program. Approximately 50 percent of the food is purchased with funds donated by individuals, churches, community organizations, the Town of Thurmont, etc.

Non-perishable donations can be dropped off in the shed or entryway anytime. Perishable food can be left with a volunteer at the TFB on Tuesday and Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Distributing food takes time. The food isn’t just thrown in a bag and given to those who show up. It takes hundreds of volunteer hours each month to pick up and/or purchase the food, sort and package the food, shelve and organize the food, make home deliveries to homebound individuals, order the food and pay the bills, take care of paperwork, distribute food when TFB is open, and attend training so they are in compliance for health and safety regulations, etc.

The days TFB is scheduled to be closed will be listed on its website (December 24 and 25, December 31 and January 1, July 4, the Friday before Colorfest, and the day after Thanksgiving).

The TFB usually follows Frederick County Public Schools’ weather closures. The safety and well-being of volunteers who live all over Frederick County and who stand out in the cold, rain, heat, and wind is just as important as that of food recipients. If the weather clears up after school has been canceled, the TFB will open if it is safe for its volunteers. To check on closures, visit its website at thurmontfoodbank.com and/or check its facebook page under Thurmont Food Bank.

The TFB serves all Northern Frederick County. People from other areas are asked to go to food banks near them.

The TFB gives two weeks’ worth of food to each household, and each household may receive food twice a month. Amounts given vary according to household size. The TFB tries to accommodate people with specific dietary and/or health restrictions, but they cannot guarantee that certain foods will not end up in the bags.

In 2024, the TFB distributed food 3,719 times to households of varying sizes. This is the equivalent of providing food for 12,711 people.

The Thurmont Food Bank is located at 10 Frederick Road,                                                                 Thurmont (mailing address: P.O. Box 74, Thurmont, MD 21788). The food bank is open Tuesday, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and Friday, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.