New online map shows where to find free food in Garrett County
GarrettCountyFood.org, launched by the Health Department, lists food pantries, free meals, senior meals and more, with hours and an open-now filter.
Garrett County residents looking for a food pantry, a free meal or other food help now have one place to look. The Garrett County Health Department recently launched GarrettCountyFood.org, a free online map of food assistance across the county.
The site lists food pantries, free community meals, senior meals, mobile markets, emergency food, delivery services and self-serve pantry boxes, according to the department. Each listing includes contact information, hours and directions.
Users can search by name, town or keyword and filter by type of help, county, town and the days a resource is available. An "open now" option shows places open at that moment based on their regular weekly hours, though it leaves out monthly and by-appointment resources. Results can also be sorted by distance if a user shares their location. The site is built to work on phones and with assistive technology, the department said.
Besides Garrett County, the map includes nearby resources in Allegany County and in Mineral, Preston and Monongalia counties in West Virginia.
The site warns that hours and availability can change and asks people to call an organization before going.
The map was built by volunteers and sponsored by the Garrett County Local Management Board and the Maryland Department of Health, according to the Health Department. Its listings draw on the Garrett County Resource Guide and AHEC West Connect.
The department is asking residents and community groups to share the site and to help keep it accurate. Corrections and new listings can be sent through the site's "Email a correction" and "Suggest a new resource" links, or by email to John Corbin of the Health Department at john.corbin@maryland.gov. New listings should include the name, address, phone number, days and hours, and who the resource serves.
For help finding other services, residents can call 211. The Health Department's main number is 301-334-7777.
