Carroll County’s food pantry, the Community of Concern, highlighted steadily increasing usage in 2024 during its annual funding request to the county on Monday. Pantry Director Roxanne Reinhart says the pantry receives a lot of support from local residents and businesses, but typically, that support is in the form of food donations, which don’t cover overhead expenses.
The Community of Concern sets itself apart from many other food pantries as it is not an income-driven program. To use the Community of Concern, clients don’t need to qualify for federal assistance or programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Head Start. They only need to demonstrate some form of need, whether a short-term challenge or unexpected expense. According to Reinhart, a typical distribution has enough food to cover a household in need.
Reinhart adds that they receive limited government support. The Community of Concern gets $400 per month through its participation in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) volunteer program, and the county and nearby cities provide annual funding. Beyond those sources, the pantry relies completely on donations from community organizations, local businesses, and residents. Pantry usage increased by approximately 10 percent from 2023 to 2024, serving 3,796 individuals.
The supervisors questioned the need for county support, as the pantry’s balance sheet shows a healthy position. Reinhart says that is thanks to the overwhelming generosity of supporters, but the pantry only has enough cash on hand to operate for a few months if donations stopped. The pantry is requesting $3,150 from the county for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which is the equivalent of three months’ rent. The supervisors did not make a formal decision on the pantry’s funding request, but the board will consider it as they continue FY26 budget preparations.
