West Farm Depot, Silver Spring: April 27, 2007 — MCPS Transportation and Maintenance employees belonging to SEIU Local 500 donated 1,700 pounds of food to a local food bank today, the result of a month-long drive to help needy children throughout Montgomery County have healthy, hunger-free weekends.

Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools Jerry D. Weast and Board of Education Vice President Shirley Brandman joined the workers at West Farm Depot in loading the donated goods in a van from Manna Food Center. The food, collected from the five MCPS depots (Bethesda, Clarksburg, Randolph, Shady Grove and West Farm) will be included in Manna’s “Smart Sacks” program.

Each Friday, “Smart Sacks”provide hungry elementary school children with backpacks full of 10-15 nutritious and kid-friendly foods for the weekend. The food includes juice boxes, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, tuna fish, microwavable pasta, soup and more. The students return the empty backpacks on Monday and receive full ones at the end of the week.

“Our members see children in need every day as they drive students to and from school, keep our facilities running and perform other important jobs. Because they are a part of our communities, they took the initiative to become a part of this important program,” said Merle Cuttitta, president of SEIU Local 500.