New Grant Boosts Laurel Food Pantries

Three nonprofits receive $70,000 to replenish supplies and expand operations amid rising food insecurity in Prince George's County.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A $70,000 grant from Prince George's County Councilman Tom Dernoga is helping three Laurel food pantries - Fish of Laurel Inc., Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS), and Faith Village of Greater Laurel - restock their shelves and upgrade equipment as they work to address growing food insecurity in the region.

Why it matters

Food insecurity has remained a major issue in Prince George's County, with the 2025 hunger report from the Capital Area Food Bank showing the county had the highest percentage of food insecurity in the Washington region. This grant aims to provide critical support to local nonprofits on the frontlines of addressing this crisis.

The details

The grant funding will allow the three Laurel food pantries to replenish their supplies, purchase new equipment like vehicles and refrigeration, and expand their operations. LARS, which has donated over 95,000 meals in the past two years, will use its $15,000 share to restock its traditional pantry items. Fish of Laurel, which serves 249 individuals, will receive $50,000 to bolster its frozen food and meat offerings. And Faith Village of Greater Laurel plans to use its $10,000 to buy a second delivery van and make other operational improvements.

  • The grant funding will be distributed to the three nonprofits in late winter 2026.

The players

Tom Dernoga

Prince George's County Councilman representing District 1, which includes Laurel, Beltsville, Calverton, and parts of Adelphi and College Park.

Fish of Laurel Inc.

A Laurel-based nonprofit food pantry that serves 249 individuals and operates pantry services twice a week, as well as providing hot meals every evening at the Elizabeth House.

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS)

A Laurel-based nonprofit that has donated 95,590 meals over the past two years and is receiving $15,000 from the grant to replenish its traditional pantry items.

Faith Village of Greater Laurel

A food pantry operated out of the Faith AME Church in Laurel, which will use its $10,000 grant to purchase a second delivery van and make other operational improvements.

Capital Area Food Bank

The regional food bank that published a 2025 hunger report showing Prince George's County had the highest food insecurity rate in the Washington area.

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What they’re saying

“This has been an incredibly stressful year for many of our residents, where so many families have been forced to rely on our local nonprofits to get by. That increased need is also straining our network of amazing nonprofits who always step up during tough times.”

— Tom Dernoga, Prince George's County Councilman (streetcarsuburbs.news)

“We went through a lot of food in November and December. We will use this money to really replenish some of our traditional stockpiles.”

— Shannon Mouton, Executive Director, Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS) (streetcarsuburbs.news)

“These extra funds are going to be a wonderful leveling tool for us to be able to continue to provide a level of service to our clients, especially with regard to frozen foods and frozen meats that we would not have been able to provide otherwise.”

— Will Bronson, President of the Board of Trustees, Fish of Laurel (streetcarsuburbs.news)

What’s next

The three food pantries will receive the grant funding in late winter 2026 and use it to immediately replenish supplies, purchase new equipment, and expand their operations to better serve the Laurel community.

The takeaway

This grant demonstrates the critical role that local nonprofits play in addressing food insecurity, especially in the face of economic challenges and reductions in federal support. By investing in these community-based organizations, the county is taking an important step to ensure residents have access to nutritious food during difficult times.