‘Choice Market’ in Montgomery County offers new experience for neighbors in need of food assistance

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) – Nonprofit Nourishing Bethesda began providing food for those in need in Montgomery County during the pandemic, and the organization has steadily grown over the years.

Nourishing Bethesda is now rolling out its newest way to help feed the community. It’s called the Choice Market.

“I’ve been dreaming about this,” Nourishing Bethesda founder, John Ross, said. “This is so exciting.”

Ross is eager to distribute food in the Montgomery County community, free of charge, and in a unique way.

“Now, we move to the gold standard in food pantries which is the Choice Market,” he said. “The Choice Market, you can see a little bit here, we’re setting up really like a grocery store so when folks come in, they get to choose what they want, which is empowering.”

Ross said the county has a substantial need for food assistance services.

“Twenty-seven percent of the population is food insecure,” he said.

Ross created the Choice Market because of this need. He said he has a passion for assisting more than 5,000 neighbors with their grocery needs each week.

“Every day,” Ross said. “I just get so much out of this.”

Nourishing Bethesda’s client interface and volunteer coordinator, Annia Ward, shares the same feeling.

“Them having the ability to now pick what they want,” Ward said. “It’s going to be great. I’m excited for them.”

The Choice Market is located at 5020 Battery Lane in Bethesda. It’s open on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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