Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 21, 2019

Ride On bus passengers can help needy families and ride free by donating canned or nonperishable food during our 32nd annual “Give and Ride” food drive. Ride On will collect donations from Sunday, April 28 through Saturday, May 4.

Food collection bags will be placed near the fare boxes on all Ride On buses. In addition to non-perishable food, items for children, such as healthy items, disposable diapers, formula, baby or toddler food and juice are especially needed. View a list of the most desirable foods online. Appropriate foods may be used by Manna Food Center for their “Smart Sack” program for kids, which provides weekend food for 2,850 needy, elementary school students. Donated items must be in unbreakable containers only.

Food collected through the drive goes to the Manna Food Center, which feeds thousands of hungry families a month. Manna continues to see a steady increase in the number of families needing assistance. Several years ago, the drive was shifted to the spring to help Manna stock its shelves at a time when their food supplies run low.

Even if you don’t use Ride On, you can still donate items. Give your donations to any Ride On bus operator or drop off donations directly to Manna Foods, 9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

For information on Ride On, call 311 or TDD/TTY 301-251-4850, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or visit the MCDOT website.